West Bengal Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020
Government of West Bengal
Health & Family Welfare Department
Swasthya Bhawan
GN-29, Sector-V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata – 700091
Notification
No: H&FW/118/20 The 16th March, 2020
In exercise of the powers conferred under section 2, 3 & 4 of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, the Governor of West Bengal is pleased to issue following regulations regarding COVID-19.
1. These Regulations may be called ‘The West Bengal Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020‘.
2. ‘Epidemic Disease’ in these regulations means COVID-19.
3. ‘Authorized’ persons under this Act are the Director of Health Services, the Director of Medical Education at the State Level, and the District Magistrate, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Sub Divisional Officer and Block Medical Officer of Health in the districts and any other officer who may be authorized by the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal.
4. All hospitals (Government and Private) shall have Influenza Like lllness(ILI) corners/ Flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19.
5. It shall be mandatory for all hospitals (Government and Private), Nursing Homes, Medical Officers in Government health institutions, Registered Medical Practitioners to notify such person(s) who, within their knowledge, are having travel history of COVID-19 affected countries as per the extant guidelines and are having symptoms of fever or cough or respiratory infection/ difficulty or without any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, to the concerned District Surveillance Unit, along with duly filled up Self Reporting Form(s). In addition, the history of coming in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 shall be recorded.
I. In case the person has any such history in the last 14 days and the person is asymptomatic then the person must be kept in home quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure or as may be notified by the State.
II. In case the person has any such history in last 14 days and the person is symptomatic, as per case definition of COVID-19, the person must be isolated in a hospital as per protocol or as may be notified by the State Government and the person will be tested for COVID-19 as per protocol.
III. Information of all such cases should be given to Director of Health services in Kolkata and to Chief Medical Officer of Health of the respective district immediately.
6. The Health & Family Welfare Department and the respective District Magistrates have been authorized for making emergency procurement of necessary drugs and consumables, equipment and other required services etc as are necessary to prevent/ contain COVID-19.
7. The Authorized Officers may impose required restriction on assemblies, congregations etc. aiming at ‘social distancing’ to contain the spread of the disease.
8. Only laboratories authorized by the Government of India/ State Government shall test samples for COVID-19 in the State of West Bengal. All such samples will be collected as per guidelines of the Government of India/ State Government and these will be sent to designated laboratories as may be notified by the Health & Family Welfare Department, West Bengal.
9. Any person with a history of travel, in the last 14 days to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported, must report to the nearest Government Hospital or call at 24×7 Call Centre number: 1800 313 444 222/ 033 2341 2600 or any another number notified by the State Government so that necessary action may be taken by the Health & Family Welfare Department.
10. All persons with a history of travel to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported in last 14 days, but who do not have any symptoms of cough, fever, difficulty in breathing, should isolate themselves at home or as may be prescribed by the Government of India/ State Government. Such persons must take precautions to avoid contact with any person, including family members for 14 days from the date of arrival from such country or area.
11. Authorized Persons as per section 3 of these Regulations can isolate a person if he/ she is symptomatic of CPOVID-19 and has a history of visit to a country/ area as notified by the Government of India from time to time.
12. If a suspected person of COVID-19 refuses admission or isolation, the Officers authorized in section 3 of these Regulations will have the powers to forcefully admit and isolate such person(s) for a period of 14 days from the onset of symptoms or till the reports of laboratory tests are received or such period as may be necessary.
13. If cases of COVID-19 are reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, ward, colony, settlement, the District Administration of the concerned district may implement any or all of the following containment measures but not limited to these, in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
I. Sealing of the geographical area,
II. Barring entry and exit of population from the containment area,
III. Closure of schools, offices and banning public gatherings,
IV. Banning vehicular movement in the area,
V. Initiating active and passive surveillance of COVID-19 cases,
VI. Hospital isolation of all suspected cases,
VII. Designating any Government/Private Building as containment unit for isolation of the cases,
VIII. Staff of all Government Department will be at disposal of district administration of the concerned area for discharging the duty of containment measures,
IX. Any other measure as directed by the Health & Family Welfare Department, West Bengal.
14. The District Disaster Management Committee is authorized for planning the strategy regarding containment measures for COVID-19 in respective districts. The committee may co-opt more officers from different departments as may be required.
15. Any person/ institution/ organization found violating any provision of these regulations shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). The Director of Health Services or the District Magistrate of a district may take penal action against any person/ institution/ organization found violating these Regulations or any other orders issued by the Government under these Regulations.
16. No suit or legal proceeding shall lie against any Authorized Person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under these Regulations.
17. These Regulations shall come into force immediately and shall remain valid until further orders.
Sd/- Vivek Kumar
Principal Secretary
Health & Family Welfare Department
Government of West Bengal