Coronavirus in Kerala: More isolation wards in Pathanamthitta

PATHANAMTHITTA: The district administration is gearing up to face any eventuality, anticipating more positive cases of Covid-19 in the coming days. At present, 900 people who are primary and secondary contacts of the three persons who arrived from Italy are under home quarantine.
Anticipating more cases, the district administration has converted all wards at two private hospitals, one each in Pandalam and Ranni, into isolation wards.District collector P B Nooh said this is being done to mitigate any emergency.
At Archana Hospital, Pandalam, 32 beds and at Menathottam Medical Mission hospital in Ranni, 42 beds have been kept ready for isolation of more patients, if required.
The collector said that of the 900 people under home quarantine, 93 people had close contacts with the virus carriers who came from Italy.
Even though they have not developed any symptoms of fever or cough, we are closely monitoring them.
“A 60-member team is presently monitoring those under home quarantine. This team is inspecting whether they are developing any symptoms. If needed, they will be shifted to hospitals,” said the district collector.
On receiving reports that a few people under home isolation were moving outdoors, the district administration has sought the help of police to force them to stay indoors.
“We are providing all non-medical requirements to those under home isolation. Food, water and even cattle feeds have been provided with the help of Kudumbashree and local bodies,” said Nooh.
More teams from different medical college hospitals have reached the district to support the doctors here. Doctors and postgraduate medical students from community medicine departments of Thiruvananthapuram, Parippally and Kottayam medical college hospitals are in the district.