As Covid-19 drags on, patients under home isolation in Panchkula are a harried lot

PANCHKULA: With the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, the positive patients in Panchkula, who are under home isolation, are a harried lot. Unaware of the next immediate steps to be taken after turning infected, they are only dependent on their friends, who have recovered from the deadly virus.
“After developing symptoms, I got myself tested after two days at the Panchkula civil hospital. When I enquired about my report, I was asked to come and collect it from the hospital. There is no system in place. There too, I had to wait for at least an hour for my report. After a week, on Sunday, a few health workers visited me and gave me medicines,” said one of the Covid-19 patients, who did not wish to be named.
Another patient said, “We are confused. We don’t know whom to contact and which doctor to approach for tele-consultation. The authorities should at least circulate a list of doctors who are treating patients via video calls or tele-consultation.”
The system of sanitising the houses of positive patients is missing. Garbage lifting vans are not picking up waste from the houses of Covid-19 patients.
A patient complained that his house was not sanitised after he tested positive and there is no system of picking up garbage from houses of patients.
MC commissioner R K Singh said, “We have a helpline (18001802013) which is functional on all working days from 9am to 5pm. We have a system wherein dedicated workers pick-up garbage from the houses of Covid-19 patients and their houses are sanitised. If there are lapses in the same, I will get it checked.”
Regarding teams getting in touch with patients under home isolation, deputy commissioner Mukesh Ahuja said, “Teams do get in touch with patients under home isolation. We provide medicines too. Due to large number of cases being reported not only from the district, but from other states too, there is a panic and confusion among patients.” About lapses in some cases where patients have not been contacted in time, he said he would get it checked.
The city has many Covid-19 positive young couples, who have small kids. Some do not have a third helping hand to take care of their children.
City-based paediatrician Dr Rajiv Arya says, “Rules are similar for such parents who have tested positive and do not have a helping hand at home. For precaution, children of positive parents are also tested and if they are negative, parents must stay masked at all times. It is also very important for them to change their masks every six to eight hours. The used masks should be disposed of after disinfecting the same.” “I have been giving tele-consultation to as many as 50 patients under home isolation. They need regular monitoring. It is essential to check their vitals regularly,” says city-based Dr Naresh Gupta.
“I am available for patients under home isolation. They can contact me for tele-consultation or any of their attendants can visit my hospital and I can then help them with video-call facility,” says city-based Dr Manoj Gupta.
There is no list of doctors issued by the administration, who offer tele-consultation to patients under home isolation. The chief medical officer (CMO) could not be contacted despite repeated calls.