Doctors at the state-run Hazaribagh Medical College and Hospital (HMCH) here are eagerly waiting for the second test report of the district’s first Covid-19 patient who seems to have recovered well.

The 52-year-old man, a migrant labourer, currently has no symptoms of fever, cold or cough, and has developed a healthy appetite too.

Deputy superintendent of HMCH A.K Singh told The Telegraph that the patient’s samples were sent to Ranchi (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences or RIMS) on Saturday and they were expecting a report on Monday.

“He has recovered fast and we are hopeful of getting his report as Covid-19 negative now,” Singh said.

“We have provided the best possible treatment to him and this is why he showed signs of recovery,” he added.

HMCH superintendent K.K. Lal agreed that the condition of the patient was improving everyday. “We hope that the report from RIMS confirms the recovery,” he added.

Patient history

Working in a transport company in Asansol, the man had reached Vishnugarh block on March 29 with fever and cold and went to a health centre where he was kept in quarantine.

Next day, he was sent to HMCH. His swab tests came back positive on April 2. The same day, his wife and son were sent to the HMCH’s quarantine hub. Both had directly contacted him, the son accompanying him home from Bagodar in adjoining Giridih, and the wife meeting him at the Vishugarh health centre where he was quarantined.

When their reports came negative, they were discharged from HMCH on the evening of April 15.

Now doctors keeping their fingers crossed for the patient’s second report.

“If it comes Covid-19 negative, then it will be a big morale boost for everyone in the state, the masses, those quarantined, those with the infection and the health workers, civic workers and the police and administration,” added a doctor who did not want to be named. “Aa spot of good news helps.”

Tea misadventures

This is the same Covid-19 patient, whose confession that he had come out of his isolation ward at the hospital thrice to have tea had spurred a mammoth screening exercise in Hazaribagh. He went out for snacks and tea on March 30, 31 and April 1, following the same routine of tea at Jhanda Chowk and a bite of litti-chokha at a restaurant near the hospital. “He did not realise the seriousness of the situation,” the son said.

Family hopeful

The man’s son told The Telegraph that his father’s health had visibly improved.

“We (the youth and his mother) were happy to catch a glimpse of papa from one of the windows of our quarantine hub when we stayed at HMCH. When we were released on April 15 after quarantine as we were not infected, we started praying for his complete recovery,” the son said. “According to reports, he is healthy and in good spirits. He is getting nutritious food, milk mixed with turmeric and chyawanprash. We hope he is home very soon,” the son said.

Second patient

HMCH superintendent Lal added that the second patient from Hazaribagh was also recovering at the private hospital HZB Arogyam Multi Specialty Hospital. HMCH and Arogyam are the two Covid-19 hospitals in the district.