After the first positive case of Covid19 was reported on September 22. On September 28 the college premises was declared as containment zone by the District Administrative Centre.
On September 22 a fourth year student undergoing B.sc Nursing at Sikkim Government Nursing College tested positive. However students despite being primary contacts were sent for clinicals in the main STNM hospital.
Speaking with Sikkim Chronicle one B.sc student informed that, “The first positive report tested on September 22, after which primary contacts were tested. Out of which 11 new cases were reported”
She further informed that the students who tested positive were kept under isolation and mass testing was conducted on September 27.
“The mass testing was conducted on September 27 in which 80% of the third year students were found Covid19 positive. However the reports of the second and fourth year students are yet to come”
She further informed that the sudden surge in covid19 cases in the hostel was due to carelessness of the management, in which she stated, “Even after the cases were reported the primary contacts were sent for the clinical in the hospital and only a separate place for sleep were designated”.
Sikkim Chronicle reached out to Chuni Doma Bhutia, Principal Sikkim Government Nursing college, Sochaygang to understand the development. She informed that, “ Some students in the hostel were complaining about mild cough and sore throat so on September 27 we took all the students for RTPCR testing, after testing we found 30 positive cases”
“We have contained the positive students in one separate floor inside the hostel. Students with the pending reports have been shifted to another floor. Total of 30 cases have been reported so far.” Bhutia Informed
Bhutia speaking on alleged carelessness of management she said “After the first case was reported, we had our own set of norms for both the the positive students and the primary contacts; the COVID positive students and primary contacts were asked to stay separately from the other students”
After the first positive case of Covid19 was reported on September 22. On September 28 the college premises was declared as containment zone by the District Administrative Centre.
The issued notification dated September 28 by District Administrative Centre, East Sikkim declared Sikkim Government College of Nursing, Sochaygang as Covid19 Containment zone under Section 34 of the Disaster Management act of 2015.
Further the notification directed Principal, Sikkim Government Nursing College, Sochaygang to identify separate places under the college premises for the covid19 positive students and primary contact students.
The order shall remain valid until any further orders from the East District Administration