The Health Department has directed all Covid hospitals across the State to install CCTV cameras and set up dedicated help desks for attendants of patients infected by Novel Coronavirus, health officials said on Monday.

“The deputy commissioners have been directed to ensure installation of CCTV cameras at Covid hospitals in their districts for better monitoring of patients,” said Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. “Covid hospitals will also have to set up help desks for attendants of patients suffering from the viral infection,” he added.

The decision, Kulkarni said, was taken in accordance with a recent directive of the Supreme Court. The apex court, citing an example of New Delhi’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, had on June 20 said that all states should install CCTV cameras in Covid hospitals to facilitate management of patients.

Several attendants of Covid patients across India have accused hospitals of being lackadaisical towards patients since the virus entered the country. In Jharkhand too, some attendants had alleged that patients were left unattended in the isolation wards.

Besides, incidents of patients fleeing isolation wards of Covid hospitals were also reported in the tribal state lately. A woman had fled the State’s premier Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) last month with her one-year-old Covid-positive baby. Police had traced the woman with the help of CCTV cameras installed at the main entrance of the hospital.

“We cannot let attendants enter isolation wards, but the help desks will keep them informed about the condition of the patient,” said Kulkari, adding that the directive will be followed in all the Covid hospitals across 24 districts of Jharkhand.

The hospital administration, health officials said, will have to maintain a record of the CCTV footage, which could be screened if a situation demands it. “CCTV surveillance will help keep a check on patients who want to flee isolation centres,” said a doctor involved in treating Covid patients at RIMS.

Nearly 3000 cases of Covid-19 infection have surfaced in Jharkhand so far, and more than half of these patients have recovered. The virus, as per government data, has claimed 19 lives in the State so far.

There are Covid hospitals in each of the 24 districts in Jharkhand. Apart from the State-run hospitals, several private hospitals too are treating Covid patients in the State, health officials said.