Panaji: With a British traveler being quarantined for suspected Coronavirus infection at Goa Medical college and hospital, near here on Thursday, State Health department on Thursday said that the Out Patient Department (OPD) patients will soon be screened for possible infection.
GMCH Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that a British traveler was admitted in the isolation ward of GMC on Thursday, totaling the number of patients to three.
He said that the GMCH has provided all the facilities to take care of the patients, besides adopting various precautionary measures to ensure that the virus is not spread.
“Shortly, we shall arrange separate screening facility at OPD Registration itself to check persons at risk or suspected to have any COVID-19 or flu like symptoms,” he said.
“This is being done to provide dedicated services to these patients while avoiding transfer of infections to other patients with comorbid conditions in other OPDs,” the Dean stated.
Bandekar said that as on date, six suspects of COVID-19 have been placed under Isolation at ward 113 at GMCH.
“Four of them tested negative and were discharged. Reports of other two are awaited,” he said.
“Many of those without symptoms are placed under home quarantine and are all reported healthy till date,” he added.
Bandekar said that the GMC has identified ward 113 as a separate facility for screening and isolation of suspect cases until their test results come negative. “Round the clock dedicated specialist services under Department of Internal Medicine are available in this ward,” he said.
“We have taken utmost precautions to provide full Personal Protection Measures to safeguard all our Doctors Nurses and Healthcare staff against acquiring infections,” he added.
Bandekar said that two ventilators are available in this ward and more are being procured shortly.
“Care is now being taken to prevent cross infections within otherwise healthy and suspect cases,” he said.
