Coronavirus in Puducherry: Covid care centres running full; half number of patients in home isolation

PUDUCHERRY: Almost half the number of Covid-19 patients in the Union territory of Puducherry have been undergoing treatment at their homes as Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research and Covid care centres have started running full.
The government also felt that home isolation and treatment of Covid-19 positive patients will be the only option to reduce the increasing workload on the healthcare workers with each passing day.
Presently, the Union territory has 2,750 active cases of which 1,246 cases (45.3%) have been under home isolation and treatment while the rest 1,504 cases (54.7%) have been undergoing treatment in various institutions.
However, health experts are of the view that isolation and treatment of Covid-19 patients in small houses will not yield the desired result.
"...isolation (of Covid-19 positive patients) in small houses does not work as it infects all members then. They (patients) need a place to be isolated," lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi said while quoting World Health Organization's (WHO) deputy director-general for programmes and chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan.
Soumya undertook a surprise inspection at the Puducherry state emergency operations centre and Covid-19 war room in the presence of Bedi and others on Thursday.
Bedi said the WHO representative outlined the measures to be followed to prevent the incidence and spread of Covid-19. Bedi said the expert insisted on focussing 'early contact tracing, testing and preventive measures'.
The expert said the government should not slacken on these vital measures and should keep the focus on them as the fight against the Covid-19 infection would be a long-drawn battle.
Soumya will hold a follow-up meeting with the territorial officials. She pointed out that the WHO holds follow up meeting with Tamil Nadu once in a month on Covid-19 care and treatment.
Bedi said Soumya had suggested that the Union territory rope in young men and women on contract basis for 'contact tracing' and to give periodical break to the paramedical staff members involved in contact tracing.
Bedi said the WHO representative would be sending an official correspondence to chief minister V Narayanasamy briefing the vital measures to be undertaken to successfully combat Covid-19 infection.