Coronavirus threat: Health dept increases surveillance
Kolkata: As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the novel Coronavirus (nCoV) epidemic with more than 125 countries being affected, the state Health department has strengthened surveillance and all the preventive measures have gained an impetus.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the people to not panis and take
necessary precautionary measures to check the spread of the virus.
According to the state Health department figure, till March 13, around 68,761 travellers have been screened at Kolkata and Bagdogra Airports and around 1,84,153 persons have been screened at seven Land Border Check Points along Nepal and Bangladesh. As many as 3,768 crew members of ships have been screened in three Ports. Around 2187 travellers from nCoV affected countries have been identified and placed under surveillance. The surveillance period has been over for 204 out of the total number of persons put in surveillance. Those who are still under surveillance are stated to be in stable condition.
The Health department also said that presently, six persons are admitted in isolation facility. Remaining 1,977 persons are under home surveillance. Till March 13, around 50 samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and ICMR-NICED in Kolkata for test but all of them have tested negative for the virus.
The Health department has already opened 24x7 call centre numbers –1800 313 444 222 / 033 2341 2600. Isolation facilities with total 163 beds have been arranged in various hospitals across the state. They are Beliaghata ID Hospital, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, NRS Medical College and Hospital, IPGMER & SSKM Hospital, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital and Dr B C Roy Post Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences in Kolkata.
Isolation wards have also been made operational at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, College of Medicine & Sagar Datta Hospital in North 24-Parganas, College of Medicine & JNM Hospital in Kalyani, Imambara District Hospital and Arambag Sub-divisional Hospital in Hooghly, Howrah District Hospital & Satyabala ID Hospital, Howrah, Basirhat District Hospital, Diamond Harbour Government Medical College and
Hospital and Kakdwip sub-divisional Hospital in South 24-Parganas, Medinipur Medical College and Hospital, Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital, Purulia Government Medical College and Hospital, Malda Medical College and Hospital, Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, Coochbehar Government Medical College and Hospital and Alipurduar District Hospital.
The Health department has already issued advisory to all the district administration and guidelines for health
and hygiene have been uploaded on the health department's website – www.wbhealth.gov.in. People at large should follow the cough etiquette by covering the nose and mouth using handkerchief/towel while sneezing/coughing and must wash hands frequently with soap and water, as directed by the health department.
Those who have arrived from the affected countries should remain under home isolation for 28 days from the date of arrival in India even if they do not show any symptoms, the health department has instructed. If any of them develop fever and cough or any difficulty in breathing can contact the help line number.
Meanwhile, four persons have been admitted to the Beliaghata ID Hospital on Saturday with suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus. The health department has not however confirmed the names of the patients yet.
