Six RPF jawans tested positive for Covid-19 discharged from hospital

Though, a universally accepted protocol for discharge of a cured Covid-19 patient is yet to evolve. Chinese model is being followed with slight variation in different countries. But medical surveillance may be required for a longer period, a senior health official said.

Biswabrata Goswami

MIDNAPORE, 3 MAY: Six RPF jawans who were found tested positive for Covid-19 being treated at the Boroma Sirona Covid Hospital in Mecheda were discharged today. They have been advised to stay in home quarantine for the next 14 days.

At least 11 of 28 constables of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) who reached Howrah station from Delhi earlier last month have tested positive for Covid-19.

Among the infected jawans, six jawans from Kharagpur who were admitted in the Covid hospital at Mecheda were tested negative for the last two consecutive tests and so they have been discharged from the hospital, said Dr Girish Chandra Bera, chief medical officer of health, West Midnapore.

Though, a universally accepted protocol for discharge of a cured Covid-19 patient is yet to evolve. Chinese model is being followed with slight variation in different countries. But medical surveillance may be required for a longer period, a senior health official said.

China recommends discharging Covid-19 patients if they don't have fever for three days, show improved respiratory symptoms, reduced inflammation in respiratory tracts and test negative twice in consecutive samples taken at least 24 hours apart.

These discharged patients are to stay in isolation - no contact with family members, separate dining and no outdoor activity -- for 14 more days. It is mandatory for them to wear a face mask and live in a room with good ventilation.

The health official said, “The Chinese experience was followed up everywhere in the world for treatment of Covid-19 patients with countries altering the protocol depending on their own clinical experience. In India, hospital care begins from identification of a suspect case. Isolation begins with sample being taken for Covid-19 testing. Even if the patient’s sample test negative, the person is discharged from the hospital only on the basis of clinical symptoms. Doctors take a call on individual cases.”

                                                     
                                                    HIGHLIGHTS

• RNA viruses like coronavirus tend to remain in human body for longer duration

• Patients cured of coronavirus are required to stay in isolation for 14 days after discharge

Meanwhile, the discharge of the RPF jawans marked the recovery of all jawans from Kharagpur which falls under Red zone. Because of the RPF jawans who were tested positive for Covid-19 in Kharagpur, the West Midnapore district has moved from Green zone to Red zone district recently.

The West Midnapore district administration has sealed off three barracks and a TB hospital in Kharagpur soon after the RPF jawans tested positive for Covid-19.

The police have also restricted movements in the railway colonies near to the Kharagpur rail station, a senior police officer said.

To curb the spread of the dreaded virus, the district health department tracked the people who came in contact with the infected jawans. The railway health staff and officials had also carried out an investigation to trace the persons who came in contact with the jawans. “Even we are looking for those who had handled the jawans' weapons. We have tracked some people and they have been sent to a quarantine center for observation. So far, we have sent 115 persons in quarantine”, said a senior railway officer.

The 28-member RPF contingent — from the Kharagpur division of South Eastern Railway — had left for Delhi and Rajasthan on 20 March for zonal training of RPF jawans which railway officials termed “an important assignment”.

The group took the train from the national capital to Kolkata on 13 April and reached Howrah on the next day. Upon arrival, the RPF personnel took a bus to Kharagpur around 8am.

As the nationwide lockdown had come into effect on 25 March, the RPF contingent had been stuck in New Delhi. The members stayed at the barracks in Dayabasti, New Delhi, till 12 April.

“It was decided to run parcel special trains for transportation of essential goods during lockdown. Subsequently, the parcel special trains started from 31 March. Since there was scarcity of ammunition with RPF in SER, the ammunition collecting contingent was advised to move by suitable parcel train from Delhi. It is pertinent to note that the on-duty movement of armed forces was exempted from the restrictions imposed during the lockdown,” the railways ministry had said.