Considering the sufferings through which the persons returning from UK were going through due to the delay in receipt of reports from National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, the Covid Task Force Committee has decided to discharge the COVID-19 UK-strain suspects if their two consecutive RTPCR tests come negative. Delay in receipt of the report of persons returning from UK testing Covid-19 positive, from National Institute of Virology (Pune) was creating several problems. To address the issue, a meeting of Task Force was convened by Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B. The meeting discussed this issue and prepared some points.

 

Radhakrishnan, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’, said, “People were facing problems as rule was clear that howsoever the time consumed but till the arrival of report from NIV, Pune the persons were not be discharged from hospital. The Task Force thought over it and submitted its recommendations, “we all accepted unanimously and took this decision. Now, persons returning from UK testing positive for novel coronavirus admitted to GMCH would remain there for 14 days. Their samples would be sent to NIV, Pune. Meanwhile, after 14 days, two RTPCR tests would be performed on them within a gap of 24 hours. If both tests come negative then the persons would be asked to go home. If the persons’ either of the RTPCR tests come positive then the next test would be performed after a gap of three days. If the test comes negative then the person would be discharged.

 

If that test again comes positive then the person has to stay at hospital for another 14 days. During same period, in case NIV, Pune report comes positive, the person has to stay at hospital under observation for another 14 days.” The meeting also decided that in case if any kind of change in decision is to be made, it would be taken by Municipal Commissioner, Task Force Head and Dean, GMCH with mutual coordination.

 

Till the new guidelines come this procedure will continue. The Task Force includes Dr Ajay Keoliya, Task Force Head; Dr Sajal Mitra, Dean, GMCH; Dr Avinash Gawande, Medical Superintendent, GMCH; Dr Sanjay Chilkar, Medical Officer, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC); Dr Sharmila Raut, Professor, Microbilogy, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH); Dr Nirmal Jaiswal, Critical Care Consultant, Wockhardt Hospital; Dr S N Shrikhande, Professor, Microbiology, IGGMCH; Dr Milind Bhrushandi, Dr Ravi Sarnaik, well-known Pulmonologist; Dr Meena Mishra, Professor, Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur; Maj Gen Dr Vibha Dutta, SM, Director, AIIMS, Nagpur.