SHILLONG: The Director of the NEIGRIHMS, Dr P Bhattacharya has downplayed the fear that the several staff of the institute were exposed to the pregnant lady who was tested positive for COVID-19  recently.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, NEIGRIHMS Interim Director, Dr P Bhattacharya said, “ Covid generates but it is unreasonable fear.”

He said that as per the protocols of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, if someone has tested negative and has been under quarantine without any signs and symptoms, they  cannot expect them to be Covid positive.

He also said that the institute tested the patient and she had no symptoms and as per the protocols of the World Health Organisation, if a patient is positive but does not have symptoms, the patient is not expected to infect others.

“ Spreading of infection is very rare if a patient does not have signs and symptoms and these are not our personal guidelines but  WHO guidelines,” Bhattacharya said

Stating that the institute has limited testing kits and it has to efficiently use these kits , he added that   there is a clear cut directive from the Ministry  that testing should not be done uselessly, adding that as per Ministry, if a person is negative and under quarantine without any symptoms , the patient should be kept under observation.

Lamenting that the hospital does not have hotlines to contact State Government immediately, he added that the husband of the patient was tested positive in another hospital and his results came after 7-8  hours and during this duration,  authorities in NEIGRIHMS did not knew that her husband is positive.

According to him,  the institute has more than 1000 employees and it is not feasible to send everybody for quarantine , adding that those hospital staff who were in close proximity  with the patient would be  sent for quarantine if they develop any symptoms and necessary testing would be done.