Serious allegations of disregard to COVID-19 safety protocols are being levied against the medical officer of Bongaigaon Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Assam after two health workers linked to the PHC tested positive for the virus, with the administration contemplating police case against the erring doctor.
Revealing this in Guwahati on May 1, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The Bongaigaon deputy commissioner (DC) is contemplating filing FIR against the doctor (of the Bongaigaon PHC). There are claims that he had been maintaining clandestine relations with Jamaatis and have been treating them also.”
“There are reports with the DC that the whole problem (of COVID-19 positive cases linked to the PHC) is due to the doctor,” he added.
The minister said he has urged the DC to proceed with utmost caution keeping in mind the selfless work put in by the medical fraternity as a whole in the state in the fight against novel coronavirus.
“But we are keeping a watch on him,” Sarma added.
The doctor and his family, as well as others associated with the PHC have already been placed under quarantine following the detection of two positive cases linked to the Centre on April 30.
Altogether five COVID-19 positive cases have been detected in Bongaigaon district, of which four were reported on April 30 and another three days back.
On the overall COVID-19 status in the state, the minister informed that three patients were discharged on May 1, taking the total number of recoveries to 32.
The districts of Golaghat, Nalbari and Morigaon have no more active cases now, he added.
The total number of active cases in the state stood at nine on May 1, while one person out of total 42 positive cases had succumbed due to complications caused by the infection.
