Nagaland
The patient from Dimapur was admitted to the GMCH, Guwahati on April 11. (Reuters File Photo)
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Three localities including a private hospital sealed
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Task Force issues detailed statement
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Appeals the citizens not to panic as necessary precautionary measures are ‘taking place to tackle the current situation’
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 13
Nagaland reported the first COVID-19 case. The information was first shared by Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a tweet late on April 12 night, saying the patient from Dimapur, who was admitted to the GMCH, tested positive for COVID-19.
As per the tweet, the patient was referred to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) by unnamed private hospital in Dimapur.
The news caught the Nagaland Health Department unaware, while social media exploded with queries.
Health department officials, who were contacted for confirmation, initially declined to comment while stating that they were also trying to confirm. Nagaland Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) Minister, S Pangnyu Phom did not respond to calls, while calls to the Principal Director did not go through.
One official, who wished not to be named, said that the private hospital may have referred the patient to Guwahati for "other reasons" and turned out to be positive. The official added a second test will be required to confirm it.
Almost 4 hours after the Sarma's tweet went viral in Nagaland, State’s H&FW Minister took to Twitter confirming the report.
Confirming the news, he said that anyone, who came into contact with the patient "will be immediately quarantined" and "certain locations will be sealed for general safety."
However, the Statement Government later (via District Task Force) issued a detailed statement early in the morning after an emergency meeting in Dimapur at 12.30 a.m, including State’s H&FW Minister.
The statement informed that the sealed locations were Marwaripatti and Ghorapatty in main city area and Zion Hospital & Research Centre (ZHRC), where the patient was initially admitted.
Official sources in Dimapur said that the police sealed off those areas immediately after the news went viral. A 3km radius, as per the protocol, has to be sealed off the sources said that it would be practically impossible to apply the requirement strictly as it would imply sealing off the main thouroughfares of the town and important government establishments.
It also implies that the wholesale market will not open as scheduled, while civilian movement will be restricted in and near the area.
As per the information gathered, the district health authority was aware of the patient's travel history. He was placed in home isolation after he returned by air from Kolkata on March 24, the source said, while adding, "He was monitored while in home isolation. Did not show symptoms initially but it seems he developed symptoms later on."
As per his phone locations, the source said that he was home and visited ZHRC atleast twice culminating with the visit on April 11, the day he was taken to Guwahati.
This version was later confirmed by the official statement.
State Government issues statement
Meanwhile, a statement issued after the early morning meeting informed that “as soon as the news broke about a patient referred from Nagaland to Guwahati being detected Covid-19 positive” on April 12, an emergency meeting was held at Chief Medical Officer’s Office, Dimapur at 12:30 am.
The meeting was attended, among others, by S Pangyu Phom, Minister, Health & Family Welfare, Special Committee member for Covid-19, Dimapur, Y. Kikheto Sema, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, CMO Dimapur, Medical Superintendent, Medical Officers and staff.
As per the statement issued after the meeting, the following decisions and actions have been taken:
a. The parents and family members of the patient who are presently in Guwahati are undergoing necessary tests.
b. Members of the joint family of the patient have already been shifted to government quarantine centre.
c. The entire Marwaripatti and Ghorapatty has already been sealed. The wholesale market at GS Road Dimapur and retail shops at Marwaripatti and Ghorapatty will be closed until further order.
d. The ZHRC Dimapur has been sealed and doctors, nurses, all other staff and their family members who came into direct and indirect contact with the patient to be quarantined.
e. Contact tracing has been started for all those passengers who were on the same flight taken by the patient - Air India 709 on March 24 2020.
Although, the 14-day quarantine period has lapsed on April 6, 2020, owing to the current emergent situation, all those passengers are directed to immediately report to their respective District Surveillance Unit/CMO Office wherever they are located in order to check their health status for further necessary action. The contact numbers of District Surveillance Unit, Dimapur are 7630877991/7630877983.
The task force also appealed the citizens not to panic as necessary precautionary measures are “taking place to tackle the current situation and to extend their support and cooperation towards the authorities.”
The Statement was appended by Y Kikheto Sema, APC and Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture and Head of Special Committee, COVID-19 Dimapur; Anoop Khinchi, Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur; Rothihu Tetseo, Commissioner of Police, Dimapur; Dr T Pangjung Sangtam, Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur District; and Dr Z Kheshito Zhimo, Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Dimapur.
Case history of the patient
Meanwhile, as per the Case history provided in the statement, the patient arrived from Kolkata by Air India Flight No. 709, Seat no 5B on March 24.
A self declaration form was submitted to Medical Staff and he was advised home quarantine for 14 days, with the condition that if “he had any symptoms he has to contact the District Surveillance Team as per the guidelines.”
On the March 30, the surveillance team contacted him by following protocol and had enquired about his health status.
The patient confirmed he was fine “without any signs and symptoms and the team reminded him to contact the control room of Chief Medical Officer’s Office in case of any health issues during the quarantine period,” the statement said.
Citing the information received from the patient’s father on April 12, by which time the patient had already reached Guwahati, he had complained of vomiting on April 6 and was admitted to ZHRC on April 8 was admitted as indoor patient. On April 10, the patient was discharged.
However, the patient was re-admitted to ZHRC on April 11 and on the same day, at 6:30pm, the District Surveillance Team received a call from hospital stating that the patient was in critical condition.
“The District Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) advised for stabilizing the patient and to be sent to COVID-19 Hospital, Dimapur for further necessary action and to contact the Public Relations Officer, COVID-19 Hospital,” the statement maintained.
As per the report of Covid-19 Hospital, Dimapur, the patient came to the at 9:43 pm on April 11 with discharge slip from ZHRC requesting to be referred to Apollo Hospital, Guwahati for further treatment and evaluation.
On the request of the patient, the Covid-19 Hospital Dimapur referred him to Guwahati, the statement added.
After the patient arrival to Dimapur on March 24, till April 12, his mobile footprint was tracked and all the time he was home quarantined except visiting/admitting to Hospitals, the statement added.
The report has been updated to include the statement issued after an emergency meeting held in Dimapur in the early hours of April 13.
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