The COVID-19 Operational Medical Team met yesterday, ie. 3rd April, 2020, under its Chairman Dr.Z.R.Thiamsanga, Vice Chairman, Health & Family Welfare Board, to review the present situation as well as discuss further preparations required to battle the COVID-19 threat.

In the meeting, it was decided to use the Urban Health Centre at ITI Veng as the focal care & treatment centre for those under quarantine, who may unfortunately develop symptoms of other illnesses besides COVID-19, or even have to undergo surgery. The Director, Health Services was entrusted with the preparatory and building extension works, whereas allotment of required number of doctors and medical staff to the centre will be done by the Director, Hospital & Medical Education. However, in case anyone among the quarantined showed illness symptoms or had physical complaints before the centre was ready, the patient will be referred to the Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Aizawl or the Medical Superintendent, State Referral Hospital, Falkawn. It was also decided in the meeting that those under quarantine or in isolation should be daily visited by the Management Teams from CMO East and CMO West.

The Operational Medical Team also discussed the new guidelines on COVID-19 issued by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on 31st March, 2020,  in which Case Definition Sub no.4 clearly states: “All hospitalized patients with severe acute respitatory illness (SARI) (fever and cough and/or shortness of breath)”. It was concluded in the meeting that the new guidelines were still irrelevant to the current situation in the state and may be reviewed when the necessity arose; and that meanwhile, the earlier guidelines issued on 17th March, 2020 may be continued effectively in the state for now.

In yesterday's meeting, it was also decided that more personnel be put on duty and more telphones be installed at the Helpline run under the Health & Family Welfare Department to make it further  useful for the general public.