Iran returned patient quarantined at SKIMS

Srinagar, Mar 5: A patient with coronavirus-like symptoms has been isolated at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), taking the number of quarantined patients to five.

On Wednesday, four suspected cases of coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were isolated at the tertiary care center. Out of the four, two have been tested negative and the reports of the two other patients’ are awaited.

In-charge Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, Dr. Ghulam Hassan Yattoo said the male patient has returned from Iran.

“The patient has been quarantined after he had coronavirus like symptoms. We have drawn his sample and sent it to AIMS, Delhi,” Dr. Yatto said.

Sources said all the five patients are stable and under constant monitoring.

Jammu and Kashmir has stepped up preparedness in order to identify the symptoms and deal promptly with the emerging infection of coronavirus.

Although no positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in Kashmir, health officials said all hospitals should ensure their staff is trained, and well-prepared to deal with the virus.

The government has been issuing advisories to inform people of the precautionary measures and symptoms associated with coronavirus.

Additional trained staff has been deployed for screening at the Srinagar Airport and an isolation center has been set-up at Sanat Nagar so that suspected cases are directly taken to the facility instead of tertiary care center.

Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday appealed the government to arrange separate OPDs, outpatient entry, waiting area, and wards for people having flu-like symptoms.

President DAK Dr. Suhail Naik said they are satisfied with the measures taken by the government to combat coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The health department, doctors and paramedics are prepared to immediately activate the highest level of emergency response mechanisms for early containment of a COVID-19 outbreak,” he said.

DAK appealed people to enforce the rigorous application of infection prevention and control measures at homes, offices, and schools.