Ahmedabad: The facility of Corona virus infection testing has been added to the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratory in the BJ Medical college and civil hospital premises here.
However the testing has not been started yet.

Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr G H Rathod today said that the health ministry has granted permission to our lab to conduct the test of corona virus infection.

‘The permission has been granted to our lab already conducts several other tests including that for H1N1 or Swine flu causing infections. But now we have got the permission to conduct Corona virus related tests also from today. We have been provided with such kits. But so far no such sample has come to us,’ he added.

He said that earlier such samples were being sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune laboratory.

Notably, over a 1000 people living in worst affected China have returned to Gujarat so far and of whom the largest chunk has come to Ahmedabad city. Many of them were under observation. The samples of body fluids of some of the suspected cases were sent to NIV Pune. There is no confirmed case of Corona virus infection in the state so far. Isolation ward have also been made in the civil hospital as well as the SVP hospital here.

Health Commissioner’s statement:

WHO has declared the recent Novel Corona Virus (2019-nCoV) as “Public Health
Emergency of International Concern” affecting 24 countries. Gujarat has geared up and
strengthened preventive measures accordingly.

Today, reports of 3 suspected patients admitted in one in Ahmedabad Civil, one in GMERS
Himmatnagar and one in SMIMER Surat were received, which were negative.

Till date, total 1044 passengers of Gujarat, having history of visiting China, have been
traced and placed under surveillance. Out of which 411 have completed the 14 days
observation period and all are asymptomatic & in a good state of health. As on today, 633
are still under observation.

•From today, laboratory testing for Coronavirus has been started in Gujarat at B. J.
Medical College, Ahmedabad. Now, time spent in transporting sample to NIV, Pune
or Mumbai will be saved.

• Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad is base hospital for Corona Virus. Fully equipped
isolation ward with Ventilators, Pulse Oxymeter, Cardiac Monitor, Defibrillator,
PPE Kit, N-95 Masks, and Triple Layer Mask has been started at Civil Hospital,
Ahmedabad.

• Isolation wards are made operational with all necessary equipments in all District
Hospitals & Medical College attached Hospitals.

• A 24×7 control room has been set up at Commissionerate of Health office and State
Emergency Operation Center, Gandhinagar and all District Head Quarters.

• Entry screening at all ports in Gujarat is started by Port Health Office and local
authorities are taking all preventive measures at all ports of Gujarat.

• Universal screening for all flights coming directly from Thailand & Singapore
besides flights coming from China & Hong Kong at Sardar Vallabhbhai
International Airport, Ahmedabad at Terminal T2.

• Health Alert, Self-declaration, and Screening of symptomatic passenger by Medical
Team started at Airport.

• 24X7 medical team comprised of Doctors, Paramedics with readiness of
Ambulances at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad. Two
thermal scanner with sufficient stock of PPE Kit, N-95 masks, Triple Layered
masks, oxygen, Advanced Life Support 108 Ambulance etc. facilities are made
available.

• Display of Health Alert is also kept on Terminal T1, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot.
Medical Team also deployed at domestic terminal.

• Radio jingles on FM Radio and quickies on TV news channel broadcasted in local
language for generating public awareness regarding prevention of corona virus.

• A team of experts from Delhi (representatives from Govt. of India) visited Airport,
Ahmedabad & Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad were satisfied with the actions taken by
Govt. of Gujarat.

• Meeting with Airport Authority, Immigration and Airlines have been done and
orientation done for screening and self-declaration.

• Training of Airport Authority, Airline staff and Immigration staff have been done
for Corona Virus prevention and control by Health Department.

• Sensitization & orientation of Doctors, Paramedics, ASHAs, members of IMA, MoH
of Mun. Corp. through SATCOM.

• Orientation and awareness program through SATCOM for all the SARPANCH of
villages, members of Gram Sanjeevani Samiti & Mahila Arogya Samiti, all field
workers (FHWs/MPHWs) was held through BISAG.

Health Advisory

Health & Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Gujarat appeals the people of the
state not to panic or driven by any rumour. All are requested to follow the health
advisories issued by MoHFW, Govt. of India. Public should strictly follow the cough
etiquettes by covering the nose and mouth using handkerchief/towel while
sneezing/coughing. Do frequent hand washing with soap and water. Those who
have arrived from the corona virus affected countries should restrict their
movement at home and advised not to go in any public gatherings voluntarily,
irrespective of their status of being symptomatic or asymptomatic. Persons with any
of the symptoms, are instructed to contact nearby Public Health Institute.

DeshGujarat