The district health department has made itmandatory for patients and those accompanying them to the Maynaguri rural hospitalto undergo Covid-19 tests in the wake of a surge in the infections after Durga Puja celebrations.

Sources said swab samples were being collected from patients visiting the outpatient departments (OPDs) at the hospital and those who went with them in the past few weeks.

Sushanta Roy, the officer on special duty deputed by thestate health department for Covid management in north Bengal, said the novel coronavirus had spread during Puja
and there had been a surge inthe Covid cases in most districts of north Bengal, including Jalpaiguri.

“We are also apprehensive that during Diwali and Chhath Puja celebrations, the number of cases will go up again. That is why all hospitals have been asked to increase the number of tests and this has prompted the authorities of Maynaguri block health administration to make the test mandatory for all the patients visiting the hospital and also those accompanying them. It would help us keep a tab on the Covid situation in the block,” said Roy.

The move, however, has not gone down well with the residents and many of them have pointed out that even though they had been to the hospital with some other ailment, their Covid tests had been conducted.

“My wife was having a pain in the abdomen. I took her to the hospital where both of us had to go for rapid antigen tests. It is surprising that though none of us had any other symptom, the paramedics insisted on the Covid tests,” said Prashanta Biswas,a local resident.

Semanti Neogi, another Maynaguri resident, had a similar experience.

“I took my aged mother to the OPD for a check-up as she had pain in the waist and knee.The staff collected our samples and said we had to undergo Covid tests. If it is made mandatory, I think people will fear visiting the hospital,” said Neogi.

Hospital sources hinted that the number of patients had come down at the OPDs in the past few days.

“Usually, 600 to 700 patients visit the OPDs at the block hospital a day. But the number declined to 120 or so in the past few days,” said a source.

A health department official said it was evident that a section of patients was avoiding the hospital because of the mandatory Covid test. “There are reports that some of them are visiting Jalpaiguri hospital or consulting private medical practitioners. They should get out of this fear and help the department keep a watch over the Covid situation. The tests are made compulsory to curb the infection in the block,” said a health official.

Lucky Dewan, the Maynaguri block medical officer, said the health department was conducting Covid tests at six other primary health centres in the block as well.

“Till November 3, 11,437 people had been tested in the block and 1,158 of them were detected with Covid. So far, 14people have died in the block because of Covid. We will continue to conduct tests and it would help us keep things under control,” said Dewan.