GUWAHATI, March 4 - Though no positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been detected so far in the State, the authorities have started taking precautionary measures and isolated intensive care units have been set up to deal with any eventuality. Meanwhile, senior doctors are of the view that there is no need to panic as not a single positive case has yet been detected in the State.
Official sources told The Assam Tribune that the Health Department has procured protective gear including masks and screening facilities have been provided at airports. A nine-bedded special ICU has been set up in the Guwahati Medical College Hospital for treatment of patients if anyone is found to be affected by coronavirus. Other medical colleges of the State have been directed to set up such special ICUs to deal with any eventuality, sources said.
Meanwhile, Professor of Medicine of Guwahati Medical College, Dr D Goswami said that there is no need for panic at this time as no positive case has been detected in the State so far. He said that even if a single case is detected, immediate precautionary measures would have to be taken. �If any person is affected by the virus, he or she as well as the doctors and nurses attending to the patient would have to take precautionary measures to reduce the possibility of droplet infection.
The patients and those attending to the patients would have to wear special N 95 masks, which are available in the hospitals,� he added.
Dr Goswami said that the persons coming from the countries and states where people were affected should be screened and if any person is found to be positive, he or she should be isolated immediately. Isolation of the patient is the best way to prevent spreading of the disease, he added. He, however said that so far, all the suspected cases in the State have turned out to be negative and �we will have to take serious note only if a single case is detected.�
