With cases rising elsewhere, 3 Kol hospitals revive Covid safety steps

Time of India

21-05-2025

Kolkata: At least three private hospitals in Kolkata have revived Covid precautions in the wake of an outbreak in Southeast Asia and the detection of cases in Mumbai, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
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Although almost no Covid case has been detected in Kolkata hospitals since last Dec, some have started collecting the travel history of those with symptoms and have recommended use of masks and sanitisers. Two hospitals have set aside isolation wards.
BP Poddar Hospital has reintroduced several precautionary measures to ensure safety of patients, visitors, and healthcare staff. "We have reinstated our isolation ward, where we are planning to keep patients with a history of domestic or international travel, who have fever.
They are being kept under observation where further treatment is carried out according to protocol," said Supriyo Chakrabarty, group advisor, BP Poddar Hospital.
At the hospital's fever clinic, strict hygiene protocols have been revived, including the use of masks, hand sanitisers, and regular sanitisation of the premises.
At Peerless Hospital, a two-bed isolation ward has been set aside for patients with Covid symptoms.
"So far, we have not received any suspect. In case there is a surge, we will convert an entire ward overnight," said CEO Sudipta Mitra. Although Peerless is yet to begin screening patients with symptoms, it plans to identify those with a travel history to Southeast Asia.
"We have not had a single Covid-positive patient since last Sept. Over the last week, we tested two non-Covid coronavirus positives. These are old strains, like 229E and OC 43.
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We are ready to revive Covid-19 tests, though," said Peerless Hospital chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri. He added that the Jn1 strain currently in circulation was unlikely to trigger a severe disease since most have received two-three vaccinations and have developed immunity.
Woodlands Hospital has revived use of sanitisers and started a campaign on hand hygiene. "We are keeping an eye on the situation," said CEO Rupak Barua.
Charnock Hospital has received a few Covid-19 cases over the last month, though they have been mild and affected those with lower immunity, said Charnock pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. "The new strain should not be more potent than the one that struck in the third wave.
But we need to be careful since any viral infection could spread fast," Sengupta said.
"At RN Tagore Hospital, we have isolation beds in the emergency, in the critical care areas, and in the wards. All infectious disease patients are isolated. We are following stringent protocols in all procedural areas to minimise the risk of cross infection during invasive procedures," said R Venkatesh, COO, Narayana Hospitals.