SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 23: A cancer patient, who was detected as Covid positive four days ago, died at Tata Steel Jharia Division Jamadoba Hospital on Friday evening.
The patient (60), a resident of Jharia, was under treatment for severe cancer ailment and succumbed to his disease.
However, the district health department today said that there is no Covid death in Dhanbad. The patient, who died at Jamadoba Hospital, was bedridden for the last six months due to the last stage of liver cancer and was not taking his diet properly.
“Even in the TruNat test conducted by the hospital, his infection was found very low. It could have been declared negative had been tested through RT-PCR as the virus was almost dead,” said Rajkumar Singh, Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officer of Dhanbad on Saturday.
The IDSP officer said that samples are first tested through TruNat and RAT and the final report is declared after the RT-PCR test at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH).
“But the doctors of Jamadoba Hospital Tata Steel did not conduct RT-PCR test of the patient after TruNat report which had to be done as per guidelines of the health department,” said Dr Singh.
However, Dr Singh said that after the death of the cancer patient, the health department has identified 22 people including family members, doctors and staff of the hospital for contact tracing and sent their samples for RT-PCR test from a safety point of view. After getting the test reports, the health department will take further action.
“Since the patient was bedridden for last six months, the health department is probing whether he was administered with both doses of Covid vaccination or not,” said Dr Singh.
The authority of Jamadoba Hospital said the institution has already set up a Covid ward right from the first wave of the pandemic. The patient was kept in the isolation ward. So, there was no danger of spreading infection.
In the meantime, deputy development commissioner (DDC) Shashi Prakash Singh held a meeting with health department officials and concerned agencies for combating the possible 4th round of the Covid wave.
The DDC directed the government and private hospitals to prepare a Covid Micro Plan, ready oxygen supported beds, ventilators, IUC and trained nursing staff. He also asked them to conduct a mock drill of preparations and ensure proper Covid tests of those who come to the district from other places.
