Mizoram may face a shortage of Covid Care Centres (CCC) if the number of Covid19 infected persons keeps increasing at a high rate.
Mizoram on Thursday reported 141 new Covid-19 positive cases, the highest spike since March 24. At present, there are 1,333 cases reported in Mizoram.
Worried with the sudden spike, senior officials of Mizoram Health Department held an emergency meeting on Thursday, which was chaired by health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana.
The senior officials pointed out that with the existing infrastructure, only 1,737 Covid-19 civilian patients can be accommodated in different districts of Mizoram.
Apart from the infrastructure for civilians, there are six Covid Care Centres to accommodate about 300 personnel of paramilitary forces.
The officials expressed concern that if the number of COVID19 positive cases continues to surge at a higher rate, patients may have to be shifted either to Assam, or start treatment at home.
As of now, most of the asymptomatic patients in Mizoram are directly shifted to Covid Care Centres and those who develop symptoms are admitted at the Zoram Medical College (ZMC).
The officials told the health minister that there is an immediate need for setting up makeshift Covid care Centres in and around Aizawl.
The state health department officials, along with the administration on Friday started identifying some infrastructure which could be converted to Covid Care Centres immediately.
According to reports, Presbyterian Church in Aizawl’s Tuikhuahtlang and the Young Mizo Association (YMA) Tuikhuahtlang branch have offered their halls to be used as Covid-19 Care Centres.
If the two halls are taken over for transformation as Covid Care Centres, there would be additional provisions to accommodate about 70 patients.
Meanwhile, the government has urged elders of all churches and YMA branches to offer their halls for Covid Care Centres.
The officials also felt the need to expedite tasks of contact tracing, surveillance and sample testing across Mizoram.