New COVID-19 Case Reported at Silchar Medical College Amid Rising Infections
COVID-19 Update from Silchar Medical College
Silchar, June 12: As COVID-19 cases continue to rise nationwide, Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) confirmed a new positive case on Wednesday evening.
The affected individual, a college student, is currently receiving treatment at SMCH. Hospital officials report that he is asymptomatic and has not traveled recently.
Dr. Bhaskar Gupta, the Principal of SMCH, noted that the patient initially exhibited symptoms of fever and a sore throat.
“He is asymptomatic and is recovering well. His swab sample will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune or the COVID-19 testing lab in Dibrugarh for further testing,” Dr. Gupta stated.
Regarding the hospital's readiness for a potential increase in cases, Dr. Gupta mentioned, “We are now much better equipped to handle emergencies. We have expanded from just six ICU beds during the first wave to 200 ICU beds, along with dedicated isolation units and other necessary facilities.”
In light of the new case, the Cachar District Health Society has activated its resources. Dr. Shibananda Roy, Joint Director of Health Services, indicated that while the patient is asymptomatic, contact tracing will be initiated according to protocol, particularly for those exhibiting symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).
“The District Civil Hospital is ready to handle emergencies with a 40-bed COVID-19 ward, isolation rooms, and other health facilities. However, there is no ICU-enabled COVID-19 ward at this hospital, so such cases are referred to SMCH,” Dr. Roy explained.
He also mentioned that the hospital has a six-bed ICU for general patients, with plans to increase capacity. Additionally, a 50-bed Critical Care Unit, recently inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, is currently under construction.
The emergence of this new case has raised concerns among local residents, prompting many to revert to safety measures such as wearing masks and using hand sanitizers.