NAVI MUMBAI : With reference to reports going around about the wife of a CISF personnel posted at JNPT being tested positive for Covid-19, we would like to highlight the timeline of the said patient.

CISF personnel’s 1.5yr old daughter was first brought to the OPD of JNPT Hospital with a case of bronchial asthma with her mother and father on 7th April. While they were sent home after being advised medications, however, same evening, the baby was admitted with continued fever and cough at JNPT Hospital at 7pm. Considering that fever and cough were persisting, the Doctor referred the case to a higher centre. As there was no history of travel in the child, or any of the family members since December 2019, and since the patient was known case of asthma, the case did not fit into the case definition of COVID-19. One of the hospitals in Panvel agreed to accept the case on the condition that the Covid-19 testing will be done and admitted the patient at 10pm same day. During the next morning, the RMO at the referred hospital informed JNPT Hospital that they were unable to arrange for a pediatrician consultation in view of the outbreak and hence had to be shifted to another hospital in Belapur; with the concurrence of the Sr. Dy. CMO, the patient was then shifted. During the next three days the child's condition improved and Covid-19 reports were also negative. While the child was considered fit for discharge, the mother was tested, though she was totally asymptomatic but had accompanied the child all along, and her report came back as positive. The COVID positive patient and the child has been referred to Panvel Sub divisional hospital and are reportedly isolated from each other.

Commenting on the development, Sr. Dy. CMO Shri Raj Hingorani said “As can be seen from the timelines, the likelihood of the mother of the child contracting the disease from one of the referral hospitals is high and the CISF personnel and his elder child are tested negative for COVID 19 but are still under home quarantine at JNPT township and are reportedly asymptomatic. During the entire course at JNPT Hospital, all staff members had used all standard precautions including the use of personal protective equipment. “

JNPT Hospital has also implemented several infection control, prevention, and preparedness measures for COVID 19 disease. The hospital has regular interactions with local and district health authorities, providing all possible support extended to them. Social distancing measures are being followed in common areas, and overcrowding has been restricted. The staff at the hospital have been trained on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and are using the same. JNPT hospital also set up a quarantine centre right from the beginning of the pandemic and caters to persons requiring to be observed for the disease, especially seamen. Home quarantine is also being done for asymptomatic persons with recent history of travel with proper stamping and monitoring.

Given the current situation, regular cleaning and disinfection of all hospital areas with medium level disinfectant solutions is carried out by housekeeping and pest control staff; ambulances with all necessary PPEs have been kept ready to transport any suspect cases to the COVID-19 ward.