On Sunday (March 15), an elderly patient from a remote village here was admitted to Government Medical College (GMC) with hematoma and pneumonia-like symptoms.
The family as well as the patient, a woman, denied her having any recent travel history.
She was admitted incongested Emergency Ward of the hospital. However, a day later, a doctor knownto the family disclosed to the hospital administration that the patient hadreturned from Saudi Arabia earlier this month after performing Umrah.
The information sent thehospital administration into tizzy. Without wasting any time, the doctorsadmitted her in the “Isolation Ward” as suspected Coronavirus patients and hersamples were taken for testing.
“Fortunately, she tested negative for the infection,” saidMedical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Majeed Mehrab.
He said it would have beena disaster if the patient had tested positive since she remained admitted inthe Emergency Ward and came in contact with many patients there.
Dr Mehrab made a ferventappeal to people. “I appeal people who have travel history or have come incontact with people having symptoms, not to visit the hospital on their own ifthey get any symptoms. But rather inform us beforehand,” he said.
A doctor who treated the woman said she was severely ill,but her family had concealed her travel history from everyone and kept herconfined to home, fearing she would be quarantined.
“Though she had been screened at the airport, she developedillness two days after reaching home,” the doctor said.
He said the patient washaving from symptoms akin to pneumonia and had sub-deural hematoma (SDH).
“She had even severe bedsore,” the doctor said, adding thefamily only bought her to hospital after her condition deteriorated.
“Imagine how many people she came in contact with before shewas isolated – family members, relatives, neighbors, doctors, paramedics andpatients. Had she tested positive it would have been a catastrophe,” the doctorsaid
Aanother elderly woman who turned up to the hospital wastreated as suspected case of Coronavirus. She too had returned from SaudiArabia after performing Umrah.
“She turned up at the OPD of the TB center for symptoms ofpneumonia. She came in contact with the patients before being sent to theIsolated Center,” the doctor said.
He said a proper mechanism should be put in place to ensurethat the suspected patients do not turn up to the hospitals on their own.
“The onus lies on individuals as well as family,” said thedoctor. “Since incubation period of the virus is 14 days it is advisable forpeople with travel history to self quarantine even if they are cleared ofscreening test at checkpoints.”
Principal GMC Anantnag, DrShowkat Jeelani said the hospital has now established a separate flu clinic.
He said the clinic has been set up at the main entrance ofthe hospital and the patients with flu-like symptoms should visits there only.
He said the patients with travel history can also get intouch with nodal officers on the designated phone numbers.