189 tests COVID-19 positive in Cachar on Monday, 2 more deaths in the district

August 31: Another 189 persons were detected as COVID-19 positive in Cachar district till 7 PM on Monday. Out of the fresh 189 positive cases, 182 were found positive in Rapid Antigen Test, whereas the rest 07 of them were detected positive in RT-PCR Test. As some more slots of RT-PCR Test results are pending, so this number may go up at night. This was informed by Suman Choudhury, District Media Expert on Sunday late evening. Cachar district further recorded 2 more deaths in the last 24 hours.

Expressing concern, Suman Choudhury said, “The district health department had started Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) in 26 centres within the Municipal area of Silchar. However, we have got a very lukewarm response from the people. As per reports, people are not coming forward for tests voluntarily. Many are sitting at home with fever, ILI symptoms & SARI symptoms, but are not going for testing. This is a very risky trend. Many patients call us at the last moment when they suffer from tremendous breathlessness. It become then very difficult to help those patients then. So we have decided that from 2 September, we will start door-to-door fever surveillance.”

Mr. Choudhury further announced about another new system started by the district health department. He said, “We have now started an online process whereby if atleast 20 persons from any area if they apply for the test, then we will immediately send our mobile team in that locality for rapid test.” He also said that instructions were issued to the Drug Inspectors to visit the chemist shops and instruct the owners that the names and address of those customers who comes for purchase of paracetamol and azithromycin should be noted down so that these persons can be put under surveillance.

He further reiterated the changed protocol in case of COVID-19 treatment. He said, “From now onwards, if anybody wants the RT-PCR Test report within 24 hours, then he/she shall have to pay Rs.2220. Further, after discharge of patients from Covid Care Centres, vehicles will not be provided. Patients will have to manage their own vehicle for going back at home. Vehicles will be provided only for transportation of patients from other districts. Also, for those patients who wants to stay in cabins at hospitals, then he/she will have to pay for this. As regards food, some changes were made. An amount will be charged from patients who are above the BPL. However, for the BPL persons, food will continue to be free.” Further, from now onwards patients admitted in private hospitals shall have to pay the price for the kit of plasma.

In the 1st slot of RT-PCR Test results, 04 persons from Cachar district tested positive. They are a 31-year0old male from Fulbari in Katigorah. He travelled by air from Bangalore. Three more air passengers were detected in this slot. They are a 36-year-old male from 37(B) AR Pailapool (Air passenger from Jorhat), a 55 years old male from AFS Kumbhirgram (air passenger from Punjab) and a 20 years old female from Kashipur (air passenger from Bangalore).

In the 2nd slot of RT-PCR Test results, 03 persons were found positive on Monday. They are a 51-year-old female from Ward No 8, Tarapur, a 39 years old male from National Highway and a 58-year-old female from Hilara. However, their source of getting infected was not mentioned in the SRF.