Chandigarh’s graph of recoveries consistently rising as 24 more discharged at PGIMER

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 21

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With the graph of recoveries consistently rising, it seems that Chandigarh has finally managed to flatten the curve as 24 more patients were discharged from PGIMER’s COVID Hospital on Thursday.

Of these 24, three were discharged in the morning batch, including a 27-year-old female nursing officer of PGIMER and a grandmother-granddaughter duo from Sector 37 aged 55 and 8 respectively, who were sent to their home where they will be home quarantined for  seven days, as per the standard protocol to be followed by all COVID-19 patients.

The evening witnessed the discharge of 21 asymptomatic patients, including 19 (11 males and 8 females) from various locations in Chandigarh comprising Sector 30, Bapudham, Sector 25, Sector 32, Mauli Jagran, Sector 52, Manimajra, Maloya and two persons from Mohali (1 male & 1 female) who lined up to usher out of the isolation ward of NHE Block, PGIMER’s dedicated COVID Hospital and discharged under revised discharge policy for COVID-19 patients issued by the Union Health Ministry.

All these 21 patients completed over two weeks’ quarantine here at PGIMER, but remained asymptomatic.

Hence, as per the revised policy, they were eligible for discharge and were not tested before being discharged as per the new guidelines.

Of them, 19 were shifted to post discharge care centre in Sector 22 for another seven days’ isolation and two were shifted to post discharge care centre in Mohali.

At the time of discharge, Prof. Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER was personally present to congratulate them and boost their morale.

He was accompanied by Prof. Vipin Koushal, in-charge COVID Hospital, Prof. Ashok Kumar, Addl. Medical Superintendent & Official Spokesperson, Dr. Swapnajeet Sahoo, Department of Psychiatry, and many other PGIMER COVID-19 team members including faculty, residents, healthcare workers present outside the Nehru Hospital Extension (NHE), greeting them and wishing them well for a long and healthy life.

Sharing his observations, Prof. Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER said, “Every discharge is a huge inspiration for our frontline warriors, our pillars of strength in this war against COVID-19. They are stretching beyond the call of duty to ensure that the best of service is delivered to the patients and their hard work is paying off with the recoveries far more outnumbering the infections now.”

“Though the situation seems in control as of now but there is absolutely no room for complacency as far as the precautions are concerned like social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands etc. These should be the new normal for all of us to contain the transmission of the virus. Let’s follow these diligently and together we can beat it,” the director added endorsing everyone’s engagement.

The nursing officer of PGIMER was the first one to be discharged today after her two consecutive negative tests of COVID-19.

Visibly beaming, she thanked everyone for their support as she stated, “Being an employee of PGIMER, I knew the strengths of my institute. But staying in the hospital as a patient after being tested positive gave me another perspective on patient care in PGIMER. There were days when I felt low and frustrated and had almost given up. But it was the constant encouragement by COVID-19 team that made me win this war of COVID-19.”

It was followed by the discharge of grandmother-granddaughter duo from Sector 37.

The little girl garnered everyone’s attention as she walked towards the ambulance parked there holding her drawing sheets which she had painted during her stay in the hospital.

Accompanying her was her grandmother, all elated to be re-united with their family, as she said, “I had heard a lot about PGIMER but on testing positive for COVID-19, we were admitted here and had to stay here for 37 days, which is a long time.”