Five Covid patients die at NBMCH in 24 hours; health experts concerned

SNS, SILIGURI. 21JANUARY 2022 : Five persons undergoing treatment for Covid-19 in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri have died in the past 24 hours. sources said today.

A 45-year-old resident of Malbazaar in Jalpaiguri district, a 60-year-old resident of Bagdogra in Siliguri, a 49-year-old from Alipurduar district, an 84 year-old of Dabgram in Siliguri and a 55-year-old from Gate Bazaar in Siliguri died at the hospital, sources at the health department said.

NBMCH sources said the Malbazaar resident had died yesterday, while the other patients died today Among the deceased, the 49-year-old had received two doses of Covid vaccine, and the 84-year-old had taken a single dose.

Health experts, meanwhile, expressed concern over the number of deaths, even as sources said some of the elderly patients had "pre-existing diseases." They said that Covid patients with "associated diseases" admitted in hospitals needed intensive care and monitoring.

"This is for the first time in this third wave that five persons suffering from Covid19 have died at the NBMCH within 24 hours. We have seen how comorbidities had led to the death of a number of patients hospitalized during the first and second waves earlier. There should be intense care and monitoring of those patients," said a doctor at the NBMCH.

Darj dist spurt in cases

Meanwhile, Darjeeling district witnessed a massive spurt in Covid-19 cases with 699 people testing positive on a single day. hearth department officials today, however, said that the recovery rate of patients was also satisfactory, as 470 people had recovered in the past 24 hours. The figure is also the highest in the district in the third wave. Wards in the Siliguri Municipal Corporal ion that fall in Jalpaiguri district clocked 286 cases. , while civic body areas in Darjeeling district recorded 226 cases.

Among the other areas. Matigara reported 174 cases, 75 cases were found in Phansidewa, 66 in Naxalbari, 43 in Kharibari, and 42 in Kurseong Municipality

Booster dose reluctance

Meanwhile, the health department has said that there is reluctance among the people in taking the third dose or booster shots of the Covid vaccine in north Bengal.

The precaution dose for healthcare workers, frontline workers and those older than 60 years with comorbidities rolled out across the country on 10 January.

"It is a fact that they are reluctant to take the third dose. Many people are still unwilling to take the vaccine. There have been instances when some people tried to evade vaccination and some people climbed up arcs for fear of being given the shots. Efforts are being made to create awareness among them to dispel any myth, since it is important to take the precaution dose," said the officer on special duty for public health in north Bengal, Dr Susanta Kumar Roy.

"Many people had Shown unwillingness when the Covid jabs were introduced last year. We would like to tell people that they should not worry about the efficacy of the precautionary vaccine," Dr Roy added.