Ineffective monitoring of Covid patients in home isolation has been contributing towards the rise of cases in steel city. Inadequate man-power and non-payment of Rs 3 crore by the district administration has led to the present situation in the healthcare system.

Every day on an average, 2,500 people have been tested for Covid since March this year.

Asymptomatic patients are being asked to remain confined in their respective homes until the test report comes. Unfortunately, most of them are not adhering to the prescribed norm. With no system in place to monitor those in home isolation is thereby making it easier for the infection to spread.

Additional district magistrate (ADM), East Singhbhum, Nand Kishore Lal claimed the administration is monitoring the asymptomatic patients over the phone this time.

“Physical monitoring of asymptomatic patients is not possible now as we do not have the required man-power like last year. The district administration spent over Rs 3 crore for the pandemic last year, but did not get even a single rupee as of now. Then how can we engage extra man-power for the monitoring the asymptomatic patients,” quipped Lal while talking to The Telegraph Online.

The ADM added that the district administration spent money in providing food, bringing the migrant labourers back home, buying testing machines and hiring additional man-power for managing the containment zones last year.

In the last 24 hours, 303 more Covid cases have been detected, thereby, taking the total count to 20,467 in the district. The total number of deaths reported during this period stands at six.