The Bengal government said on Monday that it was not only equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary protection against Covid-19 but segregating severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and fever patients to minimise chances of infection among those on the frontline.

There are two ways to ensure that doctors, nurses and paramedics are not infected. “First is taking protection while approaching a patient. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is important. It includes masks, goggles and white gowns. We are giving these equipment,” chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said during a news conference.

“We are noticing that 70 to 80 per cent of Covid-19 patients are those who are suffering from severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). That is why we have opened 66 Covid hospitals in the state. Four of them are in Calcutta,” said Sinha.

He spoke of two types of Covid hospitals. The Covid 1 hospitals are those where people testing positive for the coronavirus infection are being admitted and Covid 2 hospitals are those where SARI patients are being treated.

“We have separate arrangements for SARI patients. Whenever a SARI patient is going to a private hospital, we are trying to shift the patient to either of the SARI hospitals of the government — MR Bangur Hospital and the New Town campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute. A similar protocol is being followed in the districts,” the chief secretary said.

He said identifying potential patients who could infect doctors was one precautionary measure. The other is to provide protective equipment to healthcare workers, who are on the frontline in the battle against Covid-19.

“Fever clinics in hospitals are being run outside the general premises. The reason being that if patients in fever clinics test positive (for Covid-19), a limited number of people will be at risk. Fever clinics have been segregated, SARI patients have been segregated,” said Sinha.

“Despite taking all these measures… we are still segregating and quarantining people who came in touch with a person who has tested positive. Earlier, since such an elaborate measure was not in place, 50 to 60 people had to be quarantined and tested, but now the number is going down. We will request doctors and nurses to be careful while treating a SARI patient so the doctors and nurses do not get infected from them,” he said.

Several doctors and healthcare workers in government and private hospitals across Bengal have been quarantined after they came in contact with Covid-19 patients without wearing personal protective equipment.