SILCHAR, April 18 - In a welcome move 57-year-old Sajibur Rahman, an ex-BSF personnel and the first and so far the only COVID-19 positive patient from Cachar district was ceremoniously discharged from the Silchar Medical College and Hospital on Saturday after his recent test results were confirmed negative.
Sajibur is the 12th COVID-19 patient in the State so far and first in Barak Valley to be released from hospital, said State Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma after greeting Sajibur, a resident of Peladahar village in Borkhola constituency with a bouquet of fruits in the presence of MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Pijush Hazarika, Minister of Excise and Forest Parimal Suklabaidya, Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, Silchar MP Dr Rajdeep Roy and Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul along with Cachar Deputy Commissioner Barnali Sarma.
Briefing the media, Dr Sarma said, �from today, Sajibur sahab is as normal as a non-COVID patient and there should not be any stigma attached to him. He has no virus in his body any more. However, as a matter of extra caution he would be kept under observation in a separate camp for next 14 days where he can live a normal life and even meet his family and perform religious rituals as well.�
Taking about the tests, the Health Minister informed that Sajibur, who had direct contact with Nizamuddin Markaz in New Delhi was first tested COVID-19 positive on April 2. Subsequently, while he was admitted at the SMCH, his swab samples were tested on April 7 and April 10 and the results were positive. However, following tests on April 14, Sajibur�s sample, for the first time, came out negative. In the meantime, the 14-day quarantine period also elapsed. His samples were collected on April 15 and April 16 and sent to GMCH and ICMR-RMRC laboratory at Lahowal in Dibrugarh. When the results of both GMCH and ICMR-RMRC Dibrugarh matched with SMCH wherein he was tested negative, his case was sent for discharge at the board constituted at GMCH. Also, doctors performed his chest X-ray to confirm that his lungs have no impression of the coronavirus while the treating doctor validated that the patient is fit for discharge. We are happy for Sajibur,� the Health Minister maintained.
Speaking about Assam�s first COVID-19 positive patient from Karimganj district, Dr Sarma said, �Since he is also suffering from leukaemia, he is a tough case. Doctors are monitoring his health condition, but thankfully, the patient is in a stable condition and hopefully, he could be discharged very soon.�
On the other hand, the Minister informed that Silchar Medical College and Hospital which is now a COVID-19 hospital could be opened for all general patients from April 25 if only the Rapid Testing kits for COVID-19 are brought here.
The Health Minister, however, has expressed his great dissatisfaction regarding large-scale flouting of lockdown and social distancing norms in Silchar and gave instructions to the Cachar DC and SP to cancel the vehicle passes issued for the period till April 20. �If Assam has to win the war against COVID-19, social distancing is a must. From April 21, we shall be issuing passes for limited users. I sincerely request people of Silchar to listen and obey what the PM has said for the lockdown phase,� he said.
