New SOP proposed for COVID

September 7, 2020 282 Views No Comment

H&FW proposes SOP for testing, quarantine etc.

Correspondent KOHIMA, SEP 6 (NPN): As Nagaland enters Unlock 4.0 along with rest of the country, new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for COVID testing, discharging patients, quarantine and home isolation, etc. will be announced after obtaining the nod of the High Power Committee on COVID.

This was informed at a press briefing by principal director H&FW, Dr. Vizolie Z. Suokhrie, Sunday. He said that after further relaxation of lockdown, the public have to be more careful and proactive in preventive measures.

Dr. Suokhrie also cautioned against the arrival of seasonal flu by stressing on the need to take precautions by avoiding– crowded places, close contact and confined places and to wear mask and wash hands frequently with soap and water. He informed that maximum number of private hospitals in Dimapur and Kohima have applied for permission for COVID test in their hospitals, while some were in the process of registration and procuring the necessary devices.

In view of limited manpower of pathologist and microbiologist in private hospitals, Dr. Suokhrie said the department had written to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Government of India to relax the norms, so that trained personal can conduct the test. He said private hospitals are encouraged to set up their COVID testing facility so that the COVID certificate is not denied to the public.

Dr. Suokhrie said that more than 50,000 COVID testing has been done so far in the state which was higher than the national average. Due to lesser number of backlog in testing, he said 700 to 800 samples were being tested in a day and test results were given within 24 hour. He pointed out that for the past week, the COVID positive cases were going down but cautioned against complacency due to the expected second wave of COVID.

On COVID related death cases registered in Dimapur, Dr. Suokhrie said all cases were due to co-morbidity. He said the district review committee was reviewing the epistemological link, after which finding will be passed to the state review committee.

He further informed that after the rollback of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) to normal public health care delivery, the OPD and essential services will be fully functional from next week.

Dr. Suokhrie said that new COVID positive cases, if asymptomatic, will be kept under home isolation or treatment at the COVID care centre (CCC) Mereima and severe or moderate cases will be treated at Chedema COVID hospital.

He also pointed out that Under Trail Prisoners (UTPs) if tested positive, those asymptomatic will be treated at CCC and symptomatic will be treated at COVID hospital with security. Dr. Suokhrie said a separate facility for UTPs has been established at CCC in Chümoukedima. He also assured support to the army and para-military forces towards setting up their own COVID-19 testing facility.

State nodal officer for IDSP, Dr. Nyan Kikon and deputy director, Dr. Kikameren Longkumer also briefed the media.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/new-sop-proposed-for-covid/221530.html