An experience with 10 days stay in Covid Care Centre

Prof N Irabanta Singh *

COVID Care Centre at Bal Bhawan, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal in July 2021 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The first dose Covid-19 Covidsheild vaccination was received by my wife and myself on 9th April, 2021 (Friday) at JNIMS Hospital, Porompat, Imphal East, Manipur. And second dose was also received on 13th July, 2021 (Batch No. 412IMC011) at the same hospital. Since March, 2021 my wife hardly went out of home.

The present writer, however, used to go out of home with utmost care using Face Mask, Social Distancing, Frequent Washing of Hands, etc. in order to avoid any possibility of infection of Covid-19 virus. Even the officials in the University were asked to keep distance while performing official duties.

The Bir Tikendrajit University also observed Patriots’ Day on 13th August, 2021 by inviting a very limited number of invitees. The presidium members of the function include Lt Gen (Retd) K Himalaya Singh, Dr JP Sharma, Director, BT University, Mr L Suresh Singh, Director (Resident), BT University and the present writer. After the function, a Media Coverage Session was organized in the office chamber of the writer.

During the session, half a dozen microphone receivers were kept on the table of the writer. The writer took off his face mask while speaking for a clear voice. After 3 or 4 days, the writer got sneezing and fever.

Accordingly consulted family doctor, Prof Y Iboton Rtd Prof & Head (Medicine) JNIMS, Porompat. He prescribed medicine that subsided fever. On 18th August, 2021, morning onward my wife got dry cough, sneezing, body pain, weakness and fever. On 20th August, 2021, our eldest son bought a pair of Rapid Covid-19 test device. He tested both of us.

The result showed clear indication of 2(Two) lines. Then we rushed to Modern College, Porompat where ICMR approved kit based on RT-PCR CRISPR for SARS COV-2 are conducted. Four of us (My wife, eldest son, youngest son and myself) were tested.

The report came at around 9 pm of the same day. The report showed my wife and myself were Covid-19 positive whereas both our sons were negative. Next morning, our eldest son informed Pradhan, Uchekon Nongpok, Imphal East about our results.

He informed locality Asha worker under the supervision of Akampat, Primary Health Centre, Smt Babita Devi, Nurse-In-Charge of that PHC, took initiative for declaring containment zone and advised us for Home Isolation.

In the same afternoon, Asha Worker, Smt. Basanti Devi brought medicine for us and one fingertip Pulse Oximeter for frequent measurement of Oxygen level. In the Evening of 22nd August, 2021, the oxygen level of my wife came down to 91/65. She was quite weak.

On 23rd August, 2021 morning, our eldest son contacted the Medical Officer of Akampat, Primary Health Centre, Imphal East. She advised our eldest son to shift both of us to Standard College Covid Care Centre. But my wife refused to go to the College because the wash room facility is not manageable.

Then, the Medical Officer recommended to the admission I/C Covid-19, Imphal East, Porompat. for shifting to Covid Care Centre of our choice. After much request, the admission I/C agreed to recommend to the Medical Officer Iland Covid Centre, Canchipur, Imphal West through SEAC.

On the strength of this letter, we proceeded to Iland Hospital Covid-19 Care Centre for admission. We were accommodated in a special room where we stayed for 10 days (23rd August to 1st September, 2021) and discharged on 2nd September, 2021 afternoon.

During our 10 days stay at the Iland Hospital Covid Care Centre, Canchipur, Doctors and Nurses on duty took special care for us. They came for checkups both in the morning and evening daily. The medicine they supplied to us was the same as the medicine supplied while we were in home isolation.

While staying in Covid Care Centre, my wife developed Urinary Tract Infection and loose motion. The Covid Care Centre does not provide any other medicine than prescribed by the Government.

Then, we contacted our family doctor. He prescribed medicines for these symptomatic treatments which were procured from outside. She further developed infection in the Anus. That was also treated by our family doctor. Young doctors posted in that Covid Care Centre advised us to take plenty of Fruits, Juices and Nuts.

As a result our strengths were not reduced. Moreover, the room allotted to us was quite neat and clean. The cleaners also cleaned our room daily. The back side of the room also has access to a green paddy field view.

We used to stroll around campus in the morning, which gave us strength for quick recovery. On the discharge day we were advised Home Isolation for 7 days with self-monitoring of SPO2 and temperature checking and regular steam inhalation and taking regular medicines prescribed by the M.O. Iland Covid Care Centre, Canchipur.

Discussion

According to Head, Covid Task Force, Govt. of India, infections among the fully vaccinated – Do Happen, But asserted that they “ Do not Result in Mortality” and account for an extremely Low-Level of Hospitalization (Poul: Sept 9, 2021).

In our case too, we had both doses of vaccination (First on 9 April and second on 03 July, 2021) of Covidshield. However, we were detected Covid-19 positive and Hospitalised at the Covid Care Centre. After 20 Days of first Covid-19 positive detection (20th August, 2021).

We again tested a second time (10 Sept, 2021) and found negative. But the answer is waiting whether the infected person is immune to Covid-19 or otherwise.

Conclusion

There were chances for Covid-19 positive even after receiving both doses of Covidshield vaccination.