47-yr-old HM from Buldana is first COVID-19 victim in Vid
| Date :30-Mar-2020 |
Buldana Correspondent :
The private hospital where the victim was treated first has been sealed
Administration seals the entire area where victim resided and plans to conduct door-to-door check-up of all people in vicinity
Sensation prevailed in the district on Sunday afternoon as the news of the first coronavirus death in the district and Vidarbha region spread like a wildfire. Throat swab report of a 47-year-old man, who died in quarantine ward of District Government Hospital on Saturday came positive and it got confirmed that his death was due to coronavirus infection. The deceased was also suffering from pneumonia and diabetes, as per the hospital sources. While talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Dr Balkrushna Kamble, District Health Officer, Buldana, said that the private hospital where the deceased was treated first has been sealed on Sunday. Also, the patients who were kept in the same ICU along with this patient at District Government Hospital have now been kept in separate isolation ward.
It may be recalled here that the 47-year-old deceased was serving as a headmaster and had no travel history and was getting treatment in a private hospital for two days. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to the quarantine section of the General Hospital. The patient breathed his last just after an hour of being admitted. The throat swab report of the patient was received on Sunday afternoon and he was tested positive. Dr Balkrushna Kamble, District Health Officer, informed that District Administration has sealed the area where the deceased resided. Health check-up will be conducted in every house of the area. People who were in contact with the deceased in last five days should contact district health machineries if they have any symptom of coronavirus infection.
Besides, as a part of preventive measures, it is better for them to be self quarantined. They should maintain cleanliness, not to go outside, if they go outside for some necessary works, they should take bath and wash clothes in hot water, wear mask, wash hands frequently, clean mobile phones and vehicles with sanitisers, said Dr Kamble. After receiving the report of the deceased, the private hospital where he was getting treatment for two days was also sealed.
The medical staff and health assistants of the hospital was asked to be home quarantined. As per Health Department, seven staff were there in the hospital. Moreover, family members and relatives of the deceased were also kept in home quarantine. Medical check-up would be conducted, if they have symptoms, they would be admitted in isolation wards at District General Hospital, added the sources from Health Department. As this is the first death case registered in Buldana, it is need of the hour to implement lockdown strictly in the district. As per medical sources, it is feared that the number of positive cases would be increased in coming days.
The details such as the number of persons he came in contact with in last 14 days as he was admitted in a private hospital, the doctors and medical team treating him, patients who visited the hospital, later he was treated in District Government Hospital, more than 200 people who attended his funeral should be collected and they should be placed under home quarantine to avoid community spread in Buldana, experts said. They also opined that district administration should take strong measures to control the spread of the deadly disease COVID-19.
The area where the coronavirus patient resided should be sealed. Police should be given free hand to handle the situation and city should be sealed. District administration had allowed people to purchase essential commodities from 8 am to 3 pm at weekly market on Sunday. But, as the report of the deceased person was received at 2 pm and the news went viral on social media, weekly market and others shops in city were closed. It may be mentioned here that for last four days, district administration has been appealing people not to move on the streets. Police also booked some persons who were violating rules. As soon as the report of the deceased person received, city was locked down on Sunday.
Govt decides to acquire services of pvt practitioners to treat COVID-19
Principal Correspondent :
Maharashtra Government has decided to acquire the services of private medical practitioners in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. All registered medical practitioner nurses and paramedical staff of private setup can be deputed in Government set up in emergency. This decision assumes importance as the Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMCH) are short of several facilities and equipment. The entry of private healthcare system would bring strength to the fight against corona.
Already Government has implemented The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and volume 2 of the same act Director, Medical Education and Research has been appointed as competent authority. The Government Resolution issued by Medical Education Secretary Dr Sanjay Mukherjee says, the Director has been given the responsibility of monitoring the coronavirus cases and prepare plans to curb the menace of disease. With this decision services of all the private practitioners, paramedical professionals, healthcare professionals will be acquired.
Its power has been given to Director of Medical Education and Research and through him it would be used by the Deans of Government Medical Colleges of the respective districts. They should start appointing young doctors for the treatment of coronavirus cases and elder doctors for the treatment of other diseases.