Odisha Issues Advisory For Precautionary Measures Against Coronavirus

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the outbreak of the contagious novel coronavirus (nCoV) in China resulting in the death of 41 persons, the Odisha government on Saturday issued an advisory with precautionary measures.

The decision to send the advisory was taken at the 5-T meeting at the National Health Mission (NHM) office here this afternoon.

The meeting was followed by a letter by the Director, Public Health, Ajit Kumar Mohanty to the superintendents of the SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack and VSS Medical College and Hospital, Director, Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer (CDM & PHO), Jharsuguda, directors of Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar and Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda, Chief Medical Officer, Paradip Port Trust (PPT) Hospital and general managers of East Coast Railway (ECoR) and South Eastern Railway (SER).

These authorities have been asked to strictly adhere to the following advisory.

—Any travel-related cases reported to the community would be picked up and contact shall be followed up by the integrated disease surveillance program as per the interim guideline of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

— The Airport Authority of India (AAI) based at Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda airports have been requested to facilitate entry of screening and issue instruction for the airlines to follow the International Civil Aviation guideline for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India directly or indirectly.

—The airport authority in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela will set up a screening centre and report the identification of such cases to the CDM & PHO of the districts and Director, Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar.

—The SCB Medical College & Hospital, VSS Medical College and Hospital and Capital Hospital will function as nodal centres for isolation and treatment of such cases. The superintendent of three hospitals along with the district headquarters hospital, Jharsuguda will also function as the nodal centres for isolation and management of cases reported to them.

—The director, Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar and the CDM & PHO, Jharsuguda will take urgent steps for preparedness by creating a facility for special wards for isolation, treatment including ICU care. All the centres are advised to have a 24×7 control room for monitoring of such cases.

—The treatment facilities in the hospitals will function preferably in the Pulmonary Medicine/ Medicine departments when Pulmonary medicine is not available.  The hospital will designate one faculty as nodal officer for management of SARI (severe acute respiratory infections).

—The services of the departments like anaesthesia, ENT, microbiology, pathology or any other departments can be availed as and when required.

—The superintendent/director, Capital Hospital may form a treatment committee for this purpose.

—The National Institute of Virology, Pune, has been fully geared up to receive the samples of the nCoV.

—Drugs and consumables may be indented to the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) During non-availability of hospital stocks, they may be locally purchased to ensure free treatment under Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

—The Director, Public Health, Odisha will take steps for provision of extra Group-D staff required through the CDM & PHO/director, Capital, Hospital, Bhubaneswar.

—The PPT Hospital and the Railway authorities are requested to create their own facilities for isolation and management of such cases as this condition is travel-related.

—All concerned are advised for sending the daily health status of passengers under observation to the Director, Public Health in prescribed proforma issued on January 24 vide e-mail dphorissa@gmail.com