Civil hospital decides to again shift flu corners

Mehak Jain | TNN | Apr 14, 2020, 04:39 IST

Ludhiana: Lord Mahavira Civil Hospital will shift the flu corner for screening of patients of both suspected cases of Covid-19 and seasonal flu to its the old place from Tuesday.
Earlier, the flu corner was at the entrance of the civil hospital with two windows open. One window was meant for queues of both genders, where patients could register and get themselves diagnosed while the other window was meant to take the related medicines.
The decision was taken as a lot of people had started thronging the flu corner made near the isolaton ward of the Covid-19 building. More than 90 people visit flu corner OPD and with each passing day, the flow of patients has been increasing and health department is scared that this may lead to the spread of infection. Besides, most of the people were seen without masks and could be seen violating norms of social distancing. Thus, persons with symptoms of cough, fever and difficulty in breathing were all there in the queues of suspected Covid cases and seasonal flu.
After diagnosis of suspected patients, they will be later sent to the isolation ward, where other consultants will investigate their cases further. Also, no family member or attendant will be allowed to stand near the isolation ward.
Geeta Kataria, senior medical officer, Covid-19 wing, said, “If cases of Covid-19 are reported from a defined area, the authorities will have the right to implement the following containment measures in order to prevent the spread of the disease. Sealing of the geographical area concerned is also considered. Every one thronging the flu corner near the isolation ward was not justifiable.”
‘Thus, we will be barring entry of people with seasonal flu in the isolation ward area,” she added.
Another senior medical officer Ravi Dutt said, “The person who is asymptomatic as per the definition of Covid-19, must be kept in home quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure. In case the person is symptomatic in a similar case, he will be sent to the isolation ward in a hospital and will be tested for Covid-19. Information of all such cases should be given at the civil surgeon office immediately.”