Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Megh Nidhi Dahal inspects quarantine centres

A CORRESPONDENT

HAILAKANDI: Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Megh Nidhi Dahal visited the quarantine centres set up in the district and took stock of arrangements being put in place for the persons coming from outside the State.

Accompanied by District Development Commissioner, Vikram Deb Sharma and other officers from the Health department, the Deputy Commissioner visited the quarantine centre established at PK Girls' Higher Secondary School at Lala and took stock of arrangements being put in place. Dahal also inspected the food served to the inmates. He also interacted with the inmates and inquired about their well being and any problems faced by them.

The administration has appointed senior officers as nodal officers for each quarantine centre established across the district who are assisted by other staff for smooth running of the centres. Circle officers are directed to ensure availability of facilities in the quarantine centres in their respective areas.

Dahal directed all concerned to remain in touch with the district administration and to carry out frequent fumigation of the quarantine centres and surrounding areas.

The Deputy Commissioner impressed the concerned officers to provide proper hygienic refreshment to the boarders, besides ensuring proper sanitation and round the clock electricity at the quarantine centres.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner convened a meeting of officers to review the preparedness in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak and to take stock of the facilities being provided at quarantine centres set up across the district.

The Deputy Commissioner directed officers concerned to ensure availability of all basic facilities in the quarantine centres.

The district administration has made it clear that the entry of any family members or relatives to quarantine centres in the district to give clothes, food or any other material was strictly prohibited to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Some people were coming with tiffin boxes containing food and clothes for their relatives housed in different quarantine centres in the district.

However, the administration did not allow entry to the centres, as because there is a likelihood of COVID-19 being spread through empty tiffin boxes and used clothes returned by those inside the centres. "We cannot risk the health of around seven lakh people residing in the district by allowing this," said District Development Commissioner Sharma.

So far, 44 persons had tested positive for COVID-19 in the district. Of them, one person had succumbed to the infection on April 10.

Since the number of COVID-19 positive cases are expected to rise in the district in the coming days, in addition to the designated COVID-19 hospital – SK Roy Civil Hospital here, the administration is mulling to set up separate COVID-19 blocks, as Silchar Medical College and Hospital is hard pressed to admit any more patient from neighbouring Hailakandi and Karimganj districts.

So far, the throat swabs of 1,553 persons had been taken and sent for testing for COVID-19. The reports of 1,237 persons received had tested negative, while the reports of 272 persons were pending.

Altogether 416 persons are under institutional quarantine with 377 released sent to home quarantine as on Sunday. 23 COVID-19 infected persons are in the isolation wards of the district hospital.