Dimapur, May 5: As Nagaland sees a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks, with a similar increase in the number of COVID patients requiring hospitalization, the State Government has invoked the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and directed all private hospitals in Dimapur and Kohima to provide treatment to COVID-19 patients as per SOPs.
The Government was forced to invoke the Section 24 and 65 of DMA 2005 and Section 2 of EDA 1897 as the number of ICU beds, oxygen supported beds and ward beds in Dimapur and Kohima have been exhausted due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the two districts.
In an order issued today, Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam, IAS also directed private hospitals in the two districts to reserve at least 50% of the bed capacity of the normal wards and the ICU available with the private hospitals for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
The order was issued to 37 private hospitals in Dimapur and 5 private hospitals in Kohima.
The order directed all hospitals to set up Flu corner for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19 and isolation facility to isolate suspected or probable cases till the result is declared.
It also directed that all admitted patients irrespective of type of illness be immediately tested for COVID-19 through Rapid Antigen Test or Truenat/ CBNAAT or RT-PCR. No laboratory or hospital unless approved by the Government and registered under ICMR is permitted to conduct COVID-19 testing. The test report must indicate the SRF ID and must be verifiable, it said.
The order said all asymptomatic or mild cases not requiring hospitalization should be sent to CCC or home isolation or paid CCC run by the hospital.
The Government also directed all hospitals to mandatorily report details to the District Task Force as well as to State COVID-19 war room on daily basis the status of bed availability/occupancy as per the prescribed format. It should also report details of daily confirmed cases daily, deaths, and discharge of COVID-19 patients.
On referral of Covid patients from one hospital to another, the order directed hospital should telephonically inform the COVID-19 Hospital or CCC before transferring the patient and also arrange ambulance for transporting the patient. The expenditure on transportation shall be borne by the patient.
This order appears to have been prompted by reports that many private hospitals in Dimapur has sent confirmed Covid patients to the District Hospital by auto rickshaws without any prior information. (Page News Service)
