No Coronavirus case in Hailakandi district, DC appeals not to panic

March 18: The district administration of Hailakandi has said there is no case of Coronavirus in the district and has appealed to the people to remain calm and not to panic as it (administration) has taken a slew of initiatives to prevent the spread of the disease.

Refuting a news report beamed in a channel that a person from Hailakandi district admitted in isolation ward of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) on Wednesday after being intercepted at Badarpur railway station en route to Hailakandi from Bengalaru had been a Coronavirus suspect, the district administration clarified that on clinical examination the person has been found to have no symptoms of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The person who is working in a hotel in Bengaluru was brought to SK Roy Civil Hospital by officials of the district administration and health on Wednesday in the wee hours after he developed symptoms of fever and cold. His case was referred to SMCH for further medical examination and investigation. Joint Director, Health Services, Hailakandi, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Dwivedy said that he has been informed by District Surveillance Officer, Cachar, Dr. Ajit Bhattacharjee that the person from Hailakandi admitted at the SMCH and kept under observation at isolation ward for some time has no symptoms of Coronavirus and has already been discharged. However, steps are being taken to keep the person quarantined at home for some time so that he does not venture out, as a precautionary measure.

Keerthi Jalli, Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi has appealed to the people not to panic as the administration has taken all possible measures to prevent the spread of the disease, including setting up of separate isolation wards, formation of rapid response team and 24×7 control room. “Awareness meetings on Coronavirus are being taken up at the circle and block levels across the district,” she said, adding that constant monitoring of the situation is being done with steps taken to avoid large gatherings.

“I request all departments to conduct Coronavirus awareness camps for their entire departmental staff on how to handle and take precautions. These are extreme times. No government employee’s phone to be found switched off. I repeat nobody is to be found unavailable. Severe penal provisions will be called under the Disaster Management Act. Stay safe and stay vigilant,” Jalli cautioned. Markets, roads and river cleaning are being carried out by municipal workers. Spraying of DDT is being done in market places with clearing of garbage at regular intervals.

The number of coronavirus cases globally topped 200,000 Wednesday. India currently is positioned in stage 2 of coronavirus outbreak as confirmed cases rise to 151.