Two-thirds of Gaya Covid patients in home isolation

GAYA: More than two-thirds of the people, who were tested positive for Covid-19 in Gaya district, are under home quarantine. The number of Covid active cases in the district stood at 726 on Thursday.
In the last one week, fresh cases have registered a growth of about 90 per day.
Gaya DM Abhishek Singh said health status of those in home isolation was being properly monitored and they have been given detailed briefing about do’s and dont’s. “Data about the space and other facilities available at home is collected at the time of the test,” he said.
The DM further said that earlier, some people gave wrong address and mobile number and as such tracing such persons is a problem. “Now the mobile number is verified at the test centre itself,” he said.
However, the Gaya chapter of IMA has cautioned against indiscriminate home isolation. “Before allowing home isolation, authorities must satisfy themselves that the person has the resources as well as awareness to strictly maintain the isolation protocol. It should not be allowed without due application of mind on a case to case basis,” said Gaya IMA chief Dr Ram Sewak Prasad Singh.
Meanwhile, the surge in active cases in the last few days has led to concerns about shortage of isolation beds in government hospitals. As per official documents, 325 isolation beds are available in Anugrah Narain Magadh Medical College Hospital (ANMMCH), while 50 isolation beds are available in sub-divisional hospital Tekari, 30 beds in sub-divisional hospital Sherghati and another 20 beds in APHC.
Besides these, 44 isolation beds are also available in Imperial Hotel, Bodh Gaya, the designated isolation centre. Thus the total number of beds available in the district is now 469.
The DM also said that there is no shortage of isolation beds as most of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic people prefer home isolation. “NGOs are also welcome to establish isolation centres and the district administration will offer all assistance to them. It was a collective fight and everybody has to make his or her contribution,” he said.
An Isolation Cell has been constituted in the collectorate and interested NGOs are required to get registered with the cell headed by the ADM. Civil Surgeon is also a member of the cell, the DM said.
However, IMA, Gaya chief Singh reiterated his demand to use the 20 ventilators earlier acquired for the proposed trauma centre. “In case the ventilators have gone dysfunctional due to non-use, they may be made functional,” said the IMA chief.
Asked about the status of ventilators procured for the proposed trauma centre, ANMMCH Superintendent Dr Harichand Hari said he joined only a few days back and was not aware of the facts.