Coronavirus: Nagaland's COVID-19 Positive Man being Kept in ICU of Guwahati Hospital

Guwahati, April 13, 2020:

Assam Finance and Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has announced that the first coronavirus patient from Nagaland has been shifted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) owing to the long duration of symptoms.

Jain was admitted to the ICU at the hospital as a "precaution" as he has been having symptoms for several days. However, he has not required any "ICU support" and is doing well, Sarma further added.

Addressing mediapersons here earlier today, Sarma said, "At night yesterday, a case came to us. The man is not a man from Assam, he is a resident of Nagaland. His name is Raja Jain, he is aged 33."

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Sarma also informed that on March 24, he had returned to Dimapur and was being tested by two doctors. Although initially he had undergone blood tests.

The Health Minister said that the man had come on an ambulance of the Eden Hospital. "Last night, at 8 PM a sample was collected after screening, he was declared as 'positive' for the virus by 9 PM."

Since he was brought to Guwahati on an ambulance of the Eden Hospital, both the driver of the vehicle as well as Jain's father have been quarantined, Sarma said.

The coronavirus patient has been identified as a certain Raja Jain, who arrived from Kolkata by Air India Flight no 707, seat no 5B on March 24. According to official reports, he submitted a self declaration form to medical staff and was advised home quarantine for 14 days.

On March 30, a district surveillance team contacted Mr. Raja Jain by following protocol and enquired about his health. Jain confirmed he was fine without any symptoms of the coronavirus. He was reminded to contact the Chief Medical Officer’s office in case of any health issues.

On April 12, Jain’s father confirmed that he had reached Guwahati for treatment. He had reportedly complained of vomiting blood on April 6. He was taken to the Zion Hospital in Dimapur on April 8, was admitted as an indoor patient and discharged on April 10.

On April 11, Jain was re-admitted to the Zion Hospital amid deteriorating health. On the same day, at 6:30 pm, the disease surveillance team was informed that his condition was “critical”.

The District Surveillance Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) advised for stabilizing the patient and that he be sent to the COVID-19 hospital in Dimapur for further treatment.

Subsequently, the patient was taken to the COVID-19 hospital at 9:43 pm, with discharge slip from the Zion hospital, asking to be transferred to the Apollo Hospital in Guwahati. At the behest of the patient, he was referred to Guwahati.

Meanwhile, Marwari Patti and Ghorapatty areas have been sealed, and the wholesale market at GS Road in Dimapur and retail shops at Marwaripatti and Ghorapatty will be closed until further orders.

The parents and family of the coronavirus patient who are in Guwahati have also undergone tests and members of the joint family of the patient have been shifted to the Government’s quarantine facility.

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At the same time, Zion Hospital too has been sealed off and all the medical personnel who came in contact with Mr. Jain have been quarantined.

Meanwhile, contact tracing of the co-passengers of the flight have also been initiated and they have been directed to report to their respective District Surveillace Office/CMO Unit.

It may be mentioned here that as soon as the news broke about a patienr referred from Nagaland to Guwahati being detected as COVID-19 positive on April 12, an emergency meeting was held at the Chief Medical Officer’s Office in Dimapur at 12:30 am on April 13.

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