The state government has decided to open more facilities to accommodate Covid-19 patients with no or mild symptoms in north Ben¬ gal because of a spurt in novel coronavirus cases in the region.
Sushanta Roy, the officer on special duty deputed by the state health department for Covid-19 management in north Bengal, said on Saturday that number of coronavirus cases were increasing in the region.
“That is why we have decided to open facilities where positive patients, who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, would be kept. Doctors will visit the facilities regularly and if any patient requires constant medical attention, he will be shifted to a designated Covid-19 hospital.”
According to him, such facilities are already functional in Malda district where 378 coronavirus cases have been reported so far. Now, the plan is to open such centres in other districts of north Bengal.
A senior doctor at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri explained the need for such centres.
“Asymptomatic patients can stay at home but there are many families which do not have separate rooms or wash rooms. In such a situation, there is no other option but to shift patients to Covid-19 hospitals,” the doctor said.
There is no question of keeping such a patient in a quarantine centre there is the risk that the infection might spread among others staying at the centre.
“On the other hand, there should be adequate beds at Covid-19 hospitals for patients who are symptomatic and need regular medical care. If the asymptomatic patients are kept at these hospitals, there might be a shortage of beds. That is why new centres are planned for Covid-19 patients with no or mild symptoms,” he added.
Meanwhile, corona figures continue to climb throughout the region. In Siliguri, 32 new positive patients were detected on Sunday. Among them is a former member, mayor- in-council of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation was among 32 people who were detected with the pathogen in Siliguri on Sunday.
“He (ex-MMIC) is under treatment. We are in touch with his family. Our leader and Siliguri MLA Asok Bhattacharya, who also tested posi tive for the coronavirus, is still under treatment,” said Jibesh Sarkar, the Darjeeling district CPM secretary.
The chief medical officer of health in Malda district, Bhu¬ san Chakraborty, and deputy CMOH-I Mrigankamouli Sarkar have been diagnosed wit Covid-19. Nine police personnel, including two women, also tested positive for the coronavirus in the past 48 hours. “As two key health officials have been tested positive, it has been decided to take swab samples of all other offi¬ cials of the district health department in Malda who have come in contact with them,” said an official at the Malda Medical College and Hospital.
Alipurduar, South Dinajpur and North Dinajpur logged cases at 24, 20 and 4, respectively.
