SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 20: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Friday launched a massive hunt for some positive Covid-19 patients who went underground after a test in the district.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) cum DDMA Chairman Sandeep Singh while reviewing preparation for combating the 3rd wave of Corona infection expressed concern over missing such positive patients, who provided wrong telephone numbers as well as false home addresses at the time of sample testing.
“Health department teams face sheer hardship in searching these positive patients who have switched off their mobile phone and had given wrong house address at the time of testing. Due to wrong address, their contract tracing has also become a new problem for the pandemic control campaign,” said the DC.
Sandeep Kumar has directed the SDM to hunt such hiding Covid patients and get them admitted to the hospital in coordination with concerned police stations and Incident Commander as soon as possible.
At the review meeting, the DC took stock of available beds, medicines, and medical equipment in dedicated government and private Covid hospitals of the district.
“ For facing the possible 3rd wave of Corona pandemic infection, the district administration has arranged general beds, ICU beds and Paediatric ICU beds in identified hospitals in a large number. A DPR has also been prepared to increase resources if needed in future for combating the pandemic infection,” he said.
However, the DC expressed dissatisfaction over the preparation of Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) for meeting the challenges of the 3rd wave of the Corona pandemic.
The DC, who has also administrative power in the medical college, directed principal Dr Jyoti Ranjan and superintendent Dr Arun Kumar Barnbal to submit a report about the responsibility of college authorities.
SNMMCH was the main treatment centre for Covid patients in the district during the first and second spell of the Corona pandemic. Till date, Covid patients are still being admitted to SNMMCH where an RT-PCR testing facility is also available.
