State's 2nd COVID-19 patient tests negative
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 18 2020: The State's second COVID-19 patient who has been undergoing treatment at RIMS has tested negative for the highly contagious virus.

The man's sample was tested for the fourth time today and it turned out to be negative.

Briefing media persons this evening, RIMS Director Prof A Santa said that the man's samples were tested at the VRDLs of RIMS and JNIMS, and the results showed signs of being negative.

The patient was admitted in RIMS on March 31 .

Since then, he has been undergoing treatment in an isolation ward.

In the meantime, the man's samples were tested three times and all the results turned out to be positive.

Another sample of the man was tested today for the fourth time and the result showed signs of being negative, Prof Santa said.

State's 2nd COVID-19 patient tests negative

He then lauded RIMS Medical Superintendent Prof Ch Arun Kumar, Prof Ng Taruni Devi of Medicine Department, other doctors, nurses and staff who took active roles in treating the COVID-19 patient.

Notably, the 53 year old man from Lilong was found positive for COVID-19 after he returned from a religious congregation held at Delhi's Nizamuddin in March.

Medical Superintendent Prof Ch Arun Kumar said that the patient has recovered fairly and he is now able to walk in the isolation ward's corridor.

The good news of the man testing negative has been conveyed to the Chief Minister.

However, the next step would be decided after consultation with the COVID-19 Core Committee as per the protocol and guidelines.

The patient reached Imphal on March 11 and he was most likely infected by COVID-19 before he reached Imphal.

As he came for diagnosis and necessary treatment at a private hospital located at Porompat on March 20, he started showing symptoms of COVID-19 before March 20 .

Counting from March 20, today is the 28th day which means COVID-19 can survive within human body for over one month and it is very tricky to control the virus, Prof Arun Kumar said.

Prof Ng Taruni said that they faced many challenges while treating the patient as he is suffering from diabetes and other health problems besides being 53 years old.

The man was prescribed hydroxychloroquine for five days and his insulin level was checked very frequently, Dr Taruni said.

She said that the lockdown and institutional quarantine are the best ways of protecting oneself from COVID-19 .