The management of Golaghat Nursing Home (GNH) here has drawn criticism from various quarters of the society after it emerged as a new Covid19 hotspot in Golaghat district.
It has been alleged that two lab technicians, who were assigned to collect swab samples in the districts’ Covid19 hospital, were allowed by the management of GNH to work in their lab secretly.
Pranjal Bora and Rituraj Bora, the two lab technicians of mobile medical unit under National Health Mission, have tested positive for Covid19.
“They were found positive on Sunday and then only it came to our knowledge that they were doing over time in the nursing home by flouting quarantine norms,” said Jayanta Kumar Goswami, vice-chairman of the quarantine management committee.
“The nursing home has been marked as a restricted zone and we are doing tests of all the patients, attendants, doctors, nurses and other staff.”
“The GNH management has been using the punching machine to mark attendance, which is a clear violation of Covid Management Rules,” Goswami added.
Golaghat deputy commissioner Bibhash Chandra Modi informed that on Wednesday, 92 samples were collected, out of which results of 5 samples came positive.
The positive cases include four nurses and one carpenter.
“Today 72 samples of the second line of contact have been sent for testing. The joint director of health services has been asked to conduct an enquiry into the alleged negligence by GNH,” deputy commissioner Modi said.
“Moreover, a magistrate level probe has also been ordered and depending on the findings of these enquiries, appropriate legal action will be taken against the management,” Modi added.
The district administration has restricted the timing of commercial establishments in the Golaghat town.
From now on, all shops will remain open from 9 in the morning till 6 in the evening.
Currently, there are 75 active cases of Covid 19 in Golaghat district.
Meanwhile, the Golaghat Anchalik Students’ Union on Thursday submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.
The students’ body has demanded stringent action against the GNH management under the provisions of the National Disaster Management Act and to ensure the safety of the patients presently undergoing treatment at the nursing home.