KOLKATA: The Infectious Diseases and Beliaghata General (IDBG) Hospital has been identified as the health facility for suspected cases of Omicron under treatment and isolation. This decision was among the slew of measures taken on Friday by the state government for countering the highly infectious Omicron variant of Covid.
“IDBG has been identified as the hospital where a patient, suspected to be positive to Omicron, will be isolated and treated while the sample is being sent for genome sequencing. We are taking all possible measures to minimise transmission risk and ensure containment and treatment,” said a senior state health department official.
If a traveller from a high-risk country tests positive on arrival, the person will be sent to the state’s nodal hospital for infectious diseases. The person’s samples will be sent to National Institute of Biomedical Genomics at Kalyani to confirm if the infection is the Omicron variant. Health officials said no such suspected sample has been sent for genome sequencing in the state so far. Also, samples of 2% flyers arriving at the city are being sent randomly for sequencing on a regular basis.
Rapid genome sequencing for faster detection of suspected cases, stepping up vigilance on travellers arriving from the high-risk countries are among the measures being taken up. Even if a flyer from a high-risk country tests negative, the person has to be under home quarantine for seven days and undergo an RT-PCR test again. Local police stations are being provided the list of such flyers to let them keep a track.
Hospitals across the city are on their toes to minimise the risk of transmission. Stricter screening of patients including those from Bangladesh, decongesting the OPD area and reinforcing Covid-19 appropriate behaviour are some measures hospitals are taking up.
“We have started screening patients more rigorously, the OPD area is being made less congested, more sitting arrangement will be outside the hospital building where patients can wait, only one person with OPD patient are some measures we are taking up to minimise transmission risk,” said R Venkatesh, regional director (east) Narayana Health.
Hospitals have started getting the normal patient flow from neighbouring Bangladesh. “We are reinforcing all Covid norms more strictly starting from hand hygiene and masking by patients and family visiting the hospital,” said Peerless Hospital CEO Sudipta Mitra.
Rupali Basu, MD & CEO, Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital, said the hospital is constantly reviewing and updating the knowledge about the Omicron variant.
“Screening in the emergency and OPD is being scaled up so that we do not miss out on a suspected case,” said Rupak Barua group CEO AMRI Hospitals.
“We are keeping our eyes open. If we find anyone with a travel history testing positive, we would be sharing the information with health department official if the sample requires to undergo sequencing,” said Alok Roy, chairperson of Medica Superspecialty Hospital.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/beliaghata-id-to-treat-isolate-suspected-omicron-cases/articleshow/88079814.cms
