Isolation facility for 500 in Vikarabad THE LOCKDOWN has stopped movement of people but not ensured the spread is curtailed

As the screening programme is stepped up in the state, an estimated 500 cases of coronavirus will need to be isolated in facilities set up in Vikarabad district.

Suspected cases should be isolated as that will help curtail the spread of the virus. The lockdown currently in force has stopped movement of people but not ensured that the spread is curtailed.

This is because asymptomatic carriers will develop symptoms when the number of cases peaks next, which is expected from

March 30 to April 10, and they will rush to hospitals.

This will make it difficult for the public health system to cope particularly as the second wave is expected to be strong and virulent. The first set of reported cases is recovering, as the virus is not very virulent. The condition of the second wave patients will give a picture of how strong Covid-19 is in India, said senior doctors at

Gandhi Hospital. To make it administratively effective, serious patients will be treated at Gandhi, Chest and Fever hospitals, Care Hospital in Banjara Hills, Continental Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals.

A senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, explained, “We are going to screen those with symptoms of cough, cold and fever in area hospitals. These will be patients who will be easily managed due to mild symptoms. Doctors and personal protection equipment have been arranged for them.”

The next level will be to observe thos who have still not developed symptoms but were in contact with those who have, or in the area where there are a large number of cases.

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The third level will be those who have strong symptoms like cough and fever and are emitting a large viral load and need to be kept apart.

These patients will be shifted to isolation units developed in Vikarabad. An estimated 500 people will be in this condition. As Hyderabad and its surrounding districts have large numbers of people who have come in contact with travellers, more cases are expected to emerge.

There will be symptomatic treatment provided in Vikarabad. In case the patient develops complications and requires additional support, she or he will be shifted to government and private hospitals for care.

The biggest challenge is managing families as every patient will want an attendant and that is the biggest worry for government. The policy so far has been to treat patients only when there are attendants. To treat patients without attendants being around is going to be a huge challenge.

With lockdown rules being made strict and police in every nook and corner, most of those who could be carrying the virus, even those with a history of recent travel abroad, could prefer to remain indoors

Some are observing the rules of quarantine, not going out of their homes or mingling with anyone. But there are many others who are not following the rules at all.

These risk factors are making public health officials anxious. A recent case in point is affected patients arriving from Saudi Arabia, who had given details of contacts that were found to be inaccurate

A couple who had returned from Saudi Arabia and was quarantined for 14 days developed symptoms afterwards. They hopped from one hospital to another to get themselves tested.

A public health official said, “This is very dangerous, but people do not know where to go. Government has to clearly tell people which government and private hospitals are taking samples. Self-reporting is very high but it is not respected. Instead, they are made to go all around the city which leads to spreading the virus further rather than containing it.”