Patient in SMCH's surgery department tests COVID positive; ward declared containment zone, Dr. Sidhartha Bhattacharjee quarantined 

On May 21, 2020, a patient was stretchered to Silchar Medical College and Hospital and he complained of severe stomach pain. The medical officer referred him to the surgery department and he was admitted to the ward. Specialist surgeon Dr. Sidhartha Bhattacharjee treated the patient identified as 45-year-old, Khalilur Rahman. Bhattacharjee’s diagnosis was that the patient is suffering from appendicitis. As he had other complaints too, to be on the safe side Bhattacharjee prescribed a SWAB test.

After 24 hours the SWAB test report has left the medical college authority in a state of shock. The patient admitted in the Surgery ward tested COVID 19 positive. He was immediately shifted to the COVID 19 block and a high-level meeting was called by the Principal cum chief superintendent of SMCH, Dr. Babul Bezbaruah. The meeting was attended by Dr. Abhijit Swami, superintendent and other senior administrative and medical officials. “Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had also joined the meeting over video conference,” said Bezbaruah.

“We briefed the minister about the condition and then the health ministry shared the standard operating procedure with us and we are following the protocols,” said Bezbaruah.

He added that there were 13 other patients admitted in the surgery ward and all of them and their attendants will be tested. He also mentioned that the ward where Khalilur Rahman was admitted will be declared as a containment zone. “We will relocate the remaining patients in the surgery department to a different building,” said Bezbaruah.

The medical unit that treated Khalilur will also remain in isolation for the next 14 days along with Dr. Siddhartha Bhattacharjee. “We will test them too following the protocol,” said Bezbaruah.