Among 5 divisions, Santhal records least cases at 14

Ranchi: At a time when Covid-19 cases in the state have crossed the 500-mark with more than 300 active cases, the Santhal Paragana division, comprising six districts and 20% of the geographical area of Jharkhand , has only 14 cases, the least among the five divisions of the state. Of the 14, only four are active. However, experts feel the low count of cases may be due to the least number of tests carried out in the division compared to the figures in the four others.

Among the six districts in Santhal Pargana, Sahibganj has not reported a single case till date while Godda has one, Dumka and Jamtara two each, Pakur four and Deoghar five. Barring Pakur, all Covid-19 patients in the four out of six districts of the division have recovered, raising chances of entire Santhal Pargana being declared a green zone.

Retired principal of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur, Dr A C Akhouri, said, “Conclusion about the spread of the disease can be made only on the basis of the ratio between the number of positive cases and the number of tests conducted.”

Of the 71,328 samples collected throughout the state till date, results of 11,078 samples are awaited. Among the four divisions of the state, Santhal Pargana has collected and carried out the least number of tests. Across the six districts, only 5,937 samples have been collected, out of which, 1,397 reports were pending till Saturday afternoon. Of the 24 districts in the state, Pakur has collected only 675 samples, which is the least in the state. Though Sahibganj has collected 1,556 samples, nearly 50% (714) results are awaited.

Akhouri, a microbiologist, added, “RT-PCR tests are not enough and we need to conduct more tests by using rapid test kits so that the real spread of virus can be gauged.”

Among the five divisions in the state, South Chhotanagpur tops the list with 21,047 samples collected till Saturday afternoon, of which 4,415 reports are awaited.

Talking to TOI, Sahibganj deputy commissioner Varun Ranjan said they have conducted door-to-door screenings of over 14 lakh people through 1,688 teams of Sahiyas.

“The fifth round of surveillance is on and we are shifting suspected patients to quarantine centres,” Ranjan said. The district has also tested 70 samples on Truenat machines. “We have found five suspicious cases through Truenat tests and the samples have been sent to Patliputra Medical College and Hospital in Dhanbad for confirmation through RT-PCR tests,” Ranjan said.

Sahibganj has also put and released around 10,000 people into institutional quarantines till date. After migrants started reaching the district, 25,000 were screened. “Though we do not have any confirmation, we are expecting two-three thousand migrants to return to the district and tests will be conducted on a priority basis on them,” Ranjan said. The district has issued cards to those in institutional quarantines and health officials conduct a regular check-up and record the details in the cards.

“We have done our best to contain the spread of the infection and will continue with our efforts as we have ample time to make arrangements. As of date, 300 beds, with 80 at the dedicated Covid hospital, are in place and equipped to treat symptomatic patients,” the DC informed.