Covid Surge: Principal says SMCH prepared to intake patients from Mizoram; “We are yet to refer out of state,” Medical Officers

Mizoram has been recording alarmingly high number of Covid-19 cases for the past some time. Currently, the state has more than ten thousand active cases far higher than any other northeastern states. Assam, which has a larger population is currently reporting 7,707 active cases. Today, Tripura reported that it has a total of 716 active cases in the state. 

Barak Valley’s neighboring districts Kolasib and Mamit are also reporting record-high numbers. Kolasib reported 826 active cases which are 2nd highest in the state of Mizoram and Mamit, on the other hand, reported 683 active Covid cases which are 4th highest in the State. This has sent warning to the biggest health infrastructure in South Assam – the Silchar Medical College & Hospital. To put into perspective, neighbouring Cachar and Karimganj have 119 and 62 active cases respectively.

“The number of Covid cases in Mizoram is a worrying sign for us in Barak Valley. The trend is alarming and the fact that a significant number of children are testing positive signifies it is too early for us to lower the guards in Cachar or Barak Valley. If we behave casually now, we will have to regret it later,” said the Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Babul Bezbaruah.

He also informed, “We have 100 ICU beds dedicated to Covid treatment. Moreover, the COVID wards and still operational. If we witness an influx of patients from Mizoram, we will follow the same treatment procedure and intake.”

Though because of the ongoing border dispute not a lot of medical references are coming to SMCH now but if the situation gets worsen, the hospital is ready to combat the situation. The doctors at SMCH are also expecting post-COVID cases from Mizoram. The Mizo population residing in Mamit and Kolasib districts rely heavily on Silchar Medical College and Hospital for medical needs.

The Chief Medical Officer of Kolasib, Dr. Lalhlimpuia informs us that the maximum amount of caseload in his district is coming from the testing facilities at the entry points to Mizoram and also from the large deployment of armed forces in the district

He further states, “We have wide coverage of Covid Care Centers throughout the district and has at least one of them at each village. We do have some ICU and oxygen beds but we are referring the serious cases to Aizawl now. We had previously referred patients to the SMCH but presently are not doing so.”

The CMO of Mamit, Dr. Zothankhuma on the other hand tells us, “We don’t have a single ICU bed in the district though we have a population that of under 1 lakh. We are refiring the severe cases to Aizawl as of now which too are very few in numbers, most cases we are seeing are mild or asymptomatic.” The CMO adds that they are not yet looking forward to referring cases outside their state.

Mizoram is under partial lockdown and the state has rolled out a strict set of guidelines to combat the situation. The vaccination drive has also been intensified. Around 56% of the total population has received at least one dose while 20.6% of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated.

As the Chief Medical Officers informed, the state’s Kolasib and Mamit districts are currently handling the Covid situation by themselves internally. However, Prinicipal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital made it clear that they authority is completely ready to intake a surge of patients from the neighbouring districts in the nearby states.