Kolkata: In the wake of growing Coronavirus scare among the people across the state, the doctors and virologists from the city have said that those who
have developed flu-like symptoms and returned from any foreign country in recent past, must come out and report it to the local administration or visit a nearby government hospital.
The doctors pointed out that it is difficult to differentiate between the Coronavirus affected victims as its symptoms are very similar to influenza. Any flu affected victim complains of similar symptoms which are commonly found in Coronavirus patients.
It is determined only after the swab tests are performed on the patients. As a result, it becomes easier for the local administration or the hospitals to identify the potential victims, only if they come forward and declare that they have returned from a foreign country and are affected with suspected symptoms. One can catch the virus only if he/she comes in close contact with affected victims.
The suspected patients, particularly those who have returned to the city from abroad, have also been asked to keep themselves in isolation in their houses, if they develop any flu-like symptoms at any point of time and then visit a hospital with their mouths covered with N95 masks.
"Don't cough or sneeze in public and try to cover faces while doing so. Try to wash your hands frequently with soap instead of sanitising gel as the application of soaps would be a more prudent method of removing the virus. Avoid mass gathering to check
possible human to human transmission," said Dr N Bhattacharya, a senior virologist from the city.
Dr Kuntal Maity, an ENT specialist from a government hospital, said: "Even wearing masks is not always foolproof. People wearing masks have to know how to scientifically handle them. Those who are wearing masks for protection must remove it from behind. Awareness among people is also very important. People should not unnecessarily get panicked as the mortality rate of the virus is around 2 percent."
Meanwhile, around 15 persons are currently admitted at the isolation ward of the Beliaghata ID Hospital. Many of the patients, who had been kept under isolation for over 14 days and tested negative for the virus, have already been released from the hospital.
Various hospitals in the state have already adopted a standard operating protocol (SOP) issued by the Health department, which includes a number of guidelines.