Odisha medico tests negative for coronavirus

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Feb 4, 2020 at 2:34 PM Updated On : Feb 4, 2020 at 2:41 PM

Cuttack: A medical student hailing from Odisha’s Phulbani and pursuing medical studies in China tested negative for coronavirus, informed DMET (Directorate of Medical Education & Training) Director Dr. CBK Mohanty today.

The medico was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and kept under observation at isolation ward. He had developed cold and cough after returning from from China on January 11. His swab and blood samples were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for test.

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Mohanty further said that five of the six samples sent to the NIV have tested negative for coronavirus while report of another woman medico admitted to the SCB Hospital is awaited.

The state government has set up a special ward with 74 beds, and an ICU at the SCB Medical College. “So far there has been no confirmed case of coronavirus in Odisha,” Mohanty said. The state government has appealed to people to keep in home isolation, persons who have recently returned from China, Honk Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

The Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar on Monday imparted training to paramedical staff from across the state on how to collect swab and blood samples of persons with suspected nCoV.

“Our priority is to train the paramedics as to how to keep themselves safe and collect samples from suspected persons. Each paramedical staff is being provided with a personal kit to protect themselves against coronavirus,” said RMRC director Sanghamitra Pati.

The state government has also issued advisory for proper screening of people coming from China and other such countries. The health department has issued four telephone numbers, 0674-2390466, 9439994857, 9439991221, 9437040564, and requested people to immediately inform the authorities if they come across any person who has recently returned from China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore.

The health officials will conduct a thorough test of people returning from the four countries and take follow-up action without delay, an official release said.