AMC gloats about ramped-up sampling, but its frontline firemen beg for Covid-19 test

A driver at Naroda fire station who tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday also drove around the station officer of Jamalpur, the headquarters of the AFES. However, the station officer had to go himself and submit his samples for testing

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has been gloating about how it is testing 2,490 samples per 10 lakh population, which is more than double the number of tests done in Delhi. It is then a matter of shame, and rather cruel, if AMC’s own frontline firemen who are exposed to coronavirus positive patients need to beg and plead with the civic body to get themselves tested. Ahmedabad is the largest hotspot of the pandemic in Gujarat.

Tragedy struck its shortstaffed fire services on Sunday when a 40-year-old driver of the station officer’s car tested positive for the virus along with his wife and daughter. Since he had been ill for three days, his station officer Naitik Bhatt had asked him to get himself tested. After he tested positive, Naroda fire station – which employs a staff of 170 – was asked to shut down operations and its staff sent into home isolation at the quarters.

AMC’s health team took samples of five people on Monday including that of STO Bhatt.

AMC overlooks Jamalpur officer

However, the AMC missed a vital point in contact tracing that could lead to more firemen turning out positive.Mirrorhas learnt that the driver not only drove the vehicle of Naroda STO Bhatt but also that of Jamalpur STO Santosh Patel.

But nobody went to take the sample of STO Patel. Worried sick, he had to ask for his sample to be tested and go and deposit the same on Monday. Patel has a child that is less than a year old. STO Patel and his team of drone operators who spray disinfectant were taken all across the Walled city – the biggest cluster quarantine zone of Gujarat -- by the driver who tested positive. Mirror also learned that Patel and his team were two days ago deputed with the Khadia police team which tested positive for Covid-19.

While the AMC on Sunday quarantined the Naroda fire station, no preventive action has yet been taken at Jamalpur, where the driver constantly frequented to pick up STO Patel.

Jamalpur is the temporary headquarters of the AFES as the Danapith HQ is under renovation. City’s Chief Fire Officer MF Dastoor, who also serves as Director of the Gujarat State Fire Prevention Service (GSFPS) operates out of the Jamalpur office.

‘STO went himself to submit his sample’

Mirror spoke to CFO MF Dastoor about these startling revelations. He said, “Santosh Patel went and submitted his sample on his own for testing. Meanwhile, we have locked down Naroda fire station and they will operate only in dire circumstances.”

Dastoor said that after the Naroda incident, a request had been put up to test all firemen since they have been regularly working inside the cluster quarantine areas.



Shahpur fireman asked to visit PHC

Meanwhile, Mirror has learnt that a fireman from Shahpur fire station has been sick for 4-5 days and has been getting medicines from a local clinic. However, on Monday, he sought help from his station officer to get tested for Covid-19. The STO called up 104 helpline who asked him to ask the fireman to go to the nearest health centre. Fire department officials said they were in touch with higher-ups in the AMC to get him tested without having to make him travel.

Mirror spoke to in-charge Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr Bhavin Solanki regarding the issue. He directed Mirror to speak to his Deputy Health Officer.

Samples of only those with symptoms taken DyHO GT Makwana, speaking on the testing of firemen, said, “We took five samples from Naroda fire station on Sunday and another five on Monday. Of these, three have come positive so far and others are pending.”

Asked if random testing of firemen would be carried out at Naroda as well as other fire stations considering that firemen were an important cog in the machine battling Covid-19. He said, “Since the last 48 hours, we are taking samples of only symptomatic persons. Even after contact tracing, we are taking samples only of those who have Covid-19 symptoms.”

‘Asymptomatic to stay in quarantine’

Makwana reasoned, “We have reached a point wherein we are assuming a majority of the population especially in the court area have been infected and we have reached herd immunity stage as the virus load decreases. Our strategy is to admit symptomatic patients in the hospitals and ask asymptomatic persons to stay in home quarantine. The same applies to all people.”

Asked about special care of those on the frontlines, Makwana said the first priority is health workers followed by paramedical and other ambulance staff. This would be followed by the police, firemen and other assisting personnel. Makwana said, “While our health workers have PPE, we have asked all others to wear masks, gloves and goggles while working in the field.”

Jamalpur HQ focal point?

Jamalpur is also the fire station where units from across the city go to refill disinfectant every day. It is also the site of the only disinfectant room. However, Dastoor said that after the Naroda incident, disinfectant was being sent to all fire stations to avoid units clustering at Jamalpur. Ironically, there still remains only one disinfectant room for all firemen at Jamalpur so they must go there every evening as they don’t have Personal Protection Equipment.