The NKDA has decided to set up a Covid-19 war room. “We have a dispensary in the utility building in Action Area 1D behind Tata Medical Center where we have an empty floor. We are planning to set up a war room there. There will be an incident commander with doctor, support staff and NKDA officials. In an adjoining room, there will be space for NGO volunteers who will be present for networking. The main aim is to collate information from the ground level. We have to keep abreast of even unverified news and rumours,” said NKDA chairman Debashis Sen.

Personnel posted there will be on shift duty. “The incident commander will be co-ordinating with the police, the health department, the sanitising team, the relief team etc. The team will work as an agent of the health department,” he added.

NKDA has already started door-to-door surveys across New Town to find out if anyone has fever or respiratory trouble. Temperature checks are being carried out since last Saturday in Action Area 1 and in a rehabilitation colony on the fringes of the township.

A list is also being drawn up of resident doctors. “It is not enough to tell a patient to see a doctor. He has to be advised where to seek help. People are avoiding hospitals for fear of cross-infection. We are trying to frame a protocol — who to call in which situation — and creating a response matrix. Recently, the mother of one of our officials fell and needed stitches. She could not be taken to a hospital for fear of infection as she is a cancer survivor. Finally a local doctor could be found to see her at home. We took a lesson from the incident. Doctors on the panel can indicate their preferred timings when they would be prepared to offer consultation.”

The first meeting took place in the war room on Wednesday.