Maharashtra: With locations & dates, Satara admn creates flowchart of patients’ movement before diagnosis

Initially unaffected by the infection, Satara district has seen the number if cases climb to 79, and two deaths.

Coronavirus patients, Covid 19 test, Corona cases, Maharashtra news, Indian express news

Additional Collector of Satara, Ramchandra Shinde admitted that while the flowchart was based on tracing the area covered by the patient’s cell phone, it was one of the best ways to confirm the location of the patient. (Representational)

The Satara district administration has come up with a novel plan to carry out the process of contact tracing of coronavirus patients. It has started creating flowcharts to illustrate their movements in the days before their diagnosis.

Initially unaffected by the infection, Satara district has seen the number if cases climb to 79, and two deaths.

“We have noticed that usually, patients approach the government health facility only when their symptoms get severe. Often, they are not completely honest about their movements and social contacts in the days before the diagnosis…. this has prompted us to adopt a different way to trace the contacts of patients,” said Additional Collector of Satara, Ramchandra Shinde.

The administration has sought the help of the cyber crime unit to verify the movement of patients in the days before diagnosis and hospitalisation. “The cyber crime unit has confirmed that some patients are not upfront about their movements in the days before they get hospitalised,” said Shinde.

Now, with the information received from police, usually by tracing the cell phone locations of the patients, the administration is preparing a flowchart of their movement, with details of the various locations they visited, the time and date. “This flowchart will be made public, with an appeal to local residents to approach the civic hospital for a medical check-up if they were in the same area at the same time as the patient. It is possible that they may have come in contact with someone infected…,” said Shinde.

The flowchart system is in accordance with government guidelines on studying travel history of the patient. “We have used it to trace contacts instead,” said an official of the district administration.

But some local residents have concerns about this system. “The district administration is creating a panic situation by publishing time and dates of the presence of patients in a particular area. There may be so many persons in the area at the same time. Moreover, the area shown in the flowchart is not an exact location… it is the entire area covered by the nearest mobile tower,” said one of them.

Story continues below this ad

Shinde admitted that while the flowchart was based on tracing the area covered by the patient’s cell phone, it was one of the best ways to confirm the location of the patient.

Ajay Jadhav

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
Coronavirus