49 tested positive for COVID 19 on Monday; “Plasma therapy to begin at SMCH,” administration

So far on Monday, 49 individuals have tested positive for COVID19. Among them, 38 were tested using a rapid antigen test kit, informed the official spokesperson of the district health department. Like always the symptomatic patients will be transferred to Silchar Medical College and Hospital while the asymptomatic cases will be treated in the various COVID Care Centres in Cachar.

The administration is facing problems in transferring patients to their respective hospitals. “Earlier most of the patients used to be at a facility quarantine centre and the ambulance would go there and then transfer patients to their respective hospital. Now, we see a lot of patients are actually at home and they resist. That is why the entire process takes more time,” informed Suman Choudhury, Media Expert, District Health Department.

He added that the officials from the administration provides counselling to the COVID positive patients at home and then convince them to board the ambulance and then get treated at the COVID Care Centre or the hospital.

Chief superintendent cum Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Babul Bezbaruah informed that a total of 11 individuals have died in Silchar Medical College and Hospital with COVID infection in their body. Out of them, according to the state-level death audit board, four are death caused by COVID and the rest died due to other infections.

“It is a crisis that we are going through but SMCH is handling the crisis well. Compared to other districts, the number of healthcare workers to test positive for the virus has been fewer which is a good sign,” said Dr. Bezbaruah.

“The low death rate is an encouraging sign,” added, Suman Choudhury. He informed that a board has been constituted in SMCH to start plasma therapy in Barak Valley as soon as possible. The health department is now looking for symptomatic patients who have been cured and are at their respective homes now. Choudhury has been made the nodal officer to look into the collection of plasma.

“In Cachar, we got symptomatic patients much later. However, in Karimganj and Hailakandi, there are a few. We will get in touch with them and educate them about plasma donation. Our job is to explain the cause and then request them to donate plasma. Once they willingly agree to do so we will collect plasma,” said Choudhury.

Overall, both Dr. Babul Bezbaruah and Suman Choudhury made it clear that the situation is critical but the health department has got it under control. Before signing off Choudhury said that the number of COVID positive patients can grow further today as the testing is under process.