Lab technician tests positive, medical team reach Jiri

Our Correspondent

JIRIBAM, Jul 7: Adding another dimension to the recent spread of COVID-19 at Jiribam, a lab technician who tested the police ASI of Jiribam police for typhoid before he tested positive for COVID-19, has also been infected. The lab technician tested positive for the virus today, said a source from the State Health Department.

The ASI was initially suspected to be suffering from typhoid and hence took the typhoid test, said the source.

The report of the latest infection from Jiribam is yet to added to the total tally of the infection today as the information was received late in the evening today.

Meanwhile a 5 member team of doctors led by Medical Department Joint Director, Dr S Susheta Devi reached Jiribam today to take stock of the COVID-19 related safety measures being taken up in the district and establish a COVID Care Centre.

The team reached Harinagar helipad at Jiribam by helicopter at around 10.30 am. The team includes Dr Ksh Roshan, Dr Ak Brogen, Dr Y Premchandra and Shyamkishore Sharma.

The visit came after the whole of the Jiribam district was placed under complete lockdown till July 15 to contain COVID-19 following detection of more than 25 positive cases recently. With nine more cases on July 6, as many as 36 cops and VDF (Village Defence Force) personnel attached with the Jiribam Police Station have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Speaking to media persons during the visit today, Dr S Susheta said that the team would be assessing the COVID-19 situation in the district and expedite processes for establishment of a COVID Care Centre that would facilitate effective and early treatment of the cases detected in the district. The team will also take stock of the logistics and manpower available in the district to handle the COVID-19 cases. Adequate staff (healthcare workers) will be posted in the district and required COVID-19 related training will be imparted to all involved , she said.

Meanwhile, welcoming the decision to establish a COVID Care Centre (CCC) in the district, locals, clubs and Meira Paibis however stressed that the Jiribam District Hospital should not house the facility (CCC).

"We welcome the decision to establish a COVID Care Centre but it should be established somewhere else other than the district hospital," they said adding they have also submitted a memorandum demanding the same to the Chief Minister.

The only hospital in the district should not be converted to a COVID care centre. Placing the facility inside the hospital campus may compromise or put the health of the regular patients at risk, they said.

Meanwhile, a source in the Health Department said that mass testing in various pockets of Jiribam district may begin tomorrow.

It may be noted that in the wake of the complete lockdown imposed in the district, authorities concerned had said that mass testing would be done to ascertain the prevailing situation and curb further outbreak. As many as 50,000 rapid testing kits were reportedly ordered to carry out the tests.

Two Bolero vehicles with PPEs, face masks and rapid testing kits have left Imphal for Jiribam. However, the CM's planned visit to Jiribam tomorrow to kick off the mass testing has been called off, added the source.