Jharkhand government has asked all leading hospitals in the state to set up post-Covid care centres and strengthen existing facilities for rehabilitation of Covid survivors following a rise in cases of Covid-induced mucormycosis and fatalities caused by residual symptoms.

In a letter addressed to all five state-run hospitals and a few corporate-run hospitals in Jamshedpur and Bokaro on Saturday, the Hemant Soren-led Government has said that in accordance with recommendations of the Expert Committee of Covid-19 Management in Jharkhand, all hospitals were directed to set up post-Covid care facilities for management, treatment and counselling of Covid survivors without further ado.

“Hospitals should also appoint nodal officers for management of post-Covid care facilities,” the letter stated. “The arrangements should be made in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for post-Covid counselling and treatment,” the letter added.

Cases of post-Covid complications have been on the rise in Jharkhand since the second wave of the pandemic hit the state in April. Besides life-threatening residual symptoms in survivors, cases of black fungus or mucormycosis have also been reported in different parts of the state.

While the government does not maintain an official record of Covid-induced black fungus cases, doctors say that at least 50 patients have developed mucormycosis following the use of high dosage of steroids during their treatment for Covid-19.

“Some patients infected by black fungus need critical care, and it is important that hospitals get ready with the infrastructure to treat such patients as they also require isolation,” said Dr Anindya Anuradha, an ophthalmologist who has been treating mucormycosis at Ranchi-based Bhagwan Mahavir Medica Superspecialty Hospital.

Even after the first wave of Covid-19 last year, the government had directed state-run hospitals to set up post-Covid care facilities. At present, there is a functional post-Covid care facility at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where at least two patients of black fungus have undergone treatment so far.

The government’s letter was addressed on Saturday night to RIMS, Tata Main Hospital, Bokaro General Hospital, SNMMC Dhanbad, Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hazaribagh, Phulo Jhano Medical College Dumka and Medini Rai Medical College in Palamu.

Health officials said that the post-Covid care facilities will not only treat physiological problems in survivors but also address psychological problems caused by Covid-19. Many Covid survivors in the past have complained of anxiety disorder, depression and obsessive-compulsive behaviour in Jharkhand, say psychiatrists.