Five more new COVID-19 cases detected in Hailakandi, taking total count to 44

May 31: Five fresh COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in the district of Hailakandi on Sunday. Health authorities here informed that of the five infected persons, two are in ALC College quarantine centre, one in Polytechnic quarantine centre, one in isolation ward of SK Roy Civil Hospital and one in home quarantine situated in Ward No.6 under Hailakandi Municipal area.

Of the five infected, Anwar Hussain, 23, has a travel history to Pune, Nungthoi Chanu, 8, to Pune, Abdul Matlib, 30, travel history to Pune, Anush Debnath, 9, to Delhi and Hijabuddin Laskar, 20, to Mumbai. With these new cases, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have increased to 44, which include one death. The district on Saturday recorded 20 COVID-19 positive cases, the steepest rise in a day so far.

Superintendent of SK Roy Civil Hospital, Dr.Sudip Chakraborty, disclosed 22 numbers of COVID-19 infected persons are presently undergoing treatment at the hospital while five persons, including two children have been referred to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital on Sunday. Following the detection of COVID-19 positive cases, the district administration has declared four localities as containment zones to arrest the spread of the contagious disease.

District Magistrate, Megh Nidhi Dahal issued orders enforcing sealing of the geographical areas contiguous to the epicentre of houses of COVID-19 infected persons and creation of buffer zone with strict perimeter to prevent the disease from spreading further. Containment zones have come up in and around the epicentre of COVID-19 infected persons namely Romi Singha and Monita Singha of village Rajeswarpur Part VIII under Lala revenue circle, Jahanara Begum of village Panchgram under Algapur revenue circle, Sunali Malakar of Hospital Road under Katlicherra revenue circle and Anush Debnath of Ward No.6 under Hailakandi municipal area.

Vehicles and persons entering and exiting the containment zone have been strictly restricted as per standard operating procedures under the Assam COVID-19 Regulations, 2020. “No person will be allowed to go out from the containment zone and no outsider will be permitted in, to check the spread of the deadly viral infection,” said Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath. Joint Director, Health Services, Dr.Ramesh Chandra Dwivedy said people living within the containment zones are kept under surveillance and those showing symptoms of COVID-19 are tested.

Social mobilisation activities are being carried out with physical and social distancing norms among the populace in the buffer zone. Mass gatherings and meetings in public and private places in containment as well as buffer zones are banned. The containment measures have brought almost everything to a grinding halt, barring essential and health services. Sanitisation protocols are being vigorously followed to keep the containment areas free from the virus. The order that came into force Saturday evening shall continue to remain in force till such time the containment areas become completely free from novel coronavirus COVID-19 disease.

Meanwhile, Dahal urged the people in the containment zones to adhere strictly to the guidelines, including physical distancing and use of face covers, and not to step out of their homes. “The management of COVID-19 is only possible when all due care is taken by everyone without being complacent about the situation,” he said.
He assured that the administration would provide essential items like food and vegetables to people inside the containment zones. “In case anyone faces any sort of difficulty, he or she may contact 24×7 helpline No.1077”, he added.

Four patients were discharged from SMC&H after they tested negative on Sunday. Three are from Cachar and one from Hailakandi district. Salimuddin Kazi, 22, Amir Hussain, 22, and Daman Munda,18, are from Cachar district while Subrato Roy, 21 is from Hailakandi district.