Kohima: The deputy commissioner of Peren sealed the district’s lone district hospital after a patient tested positive for COVID-19. The order, which came to force on Friday, will continue till further notice.
Speaking with EastMojo, deputy chief medical of the district, Dr Lanuakum, said a patient who underwent cesarean section was declared COVID-19 positive through the Truenat test. The health officer informed that the patient had initially tested negative through Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before testing positive.
Unlike other districts where all district hospitals (DH) are designated as COVID-19 hospitals, he informed that in Peren district, the community health centre (CHC) in Jalukie is the designated COVID-19 hospital. As it was not advised to shift the patient, he informed that the hospital had to be sealed.
Although the hospital remains sealed, he said that one block outside the main hospital building would remain open for emergency cases and Outpatient Department (OPD) patients.
For patients requiring hospitalisation, he said that both the CHC and the DH refers patients to a 10-12 bedded private nursing home in Jalukie, where patients pay a nominal rate. For delivery cases, he informed that two designated sub-centre in Jalukie handles delivery cases.
This year, around 50 positive cases were detected in the district. Most patients have recovered, he added. There are 13 active cases at present and most are asymptomatic cases in home isolation. No COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in the Peren district so far.
Dr Lanuakum added there are 23 oxygen concentrators, 90 oxygen cylinders—74 B type and 16 D type, in case of patients requiring oxygen. More oxygen cylinders are expected to be delivered to the district. Six medical officers have also recently been transferred to the district, adding to the workforce in handling the COVID-19 situation.
“We are trying our best with the facilities available. We are hopeful that the situation will not worsen,” he added.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Peren, Sentiwapang Aier, NCS has notified that given the detection of COVID-19 positive patient and to take preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, the district hospital, Peren has been sealed till further notice.
The DC advised the public to follow all safety precautions, especially within the proximity of the sealed area. Any person violating the order would be liable to be prosecuted as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC, he added.