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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In one week there has been a sporadic increase in the Covid-19 positive cases among the health workers, especially in Thiruvananthapuram, and it has affected at least 12 government hospitals. Among the 173 health workers who tested positive in the state since July 17, 56 are from the state capital.
This includes ten doctors, of whom eight are from government hospitals, including five at the medical college hospital. One doctor who was involved in non-Covid care at the general hospital has also tested positive. On July 22 alone, 22 health care workers from the district had tested positive.
The issue has also affected the functioning of the hospitals in the district. A positive case reported from the maternity hospital at Poojappura here has led to a virtual close down as all the three gynecology doctors have gone on quarantine.
At present, almost 300 health care workers are under quarantine in the district, of whom 100 are from the medical college hospital, where at least four wards have been shut. Even the private hospitals in the district are affected by 11 positive cases reported in the last week among health care workers. The nursing students, Asha workers, nurses, junior public health nurses, ambulance drivers, etc. are among the health care workers who have become positive in the district in the one week.
With the situation becoming worse, the district health administration has started testing health care workers employed in the FLTCs and also in other hospitals. “Aggressive testing is needed among health care workers. The people who are working in the containment zones carry the biggest risk. If there is aggressive testing, then we can immediately replace the staff. At present, after a positive result we are quarantining five to ten people who have worked with them,’’ said Dr G S Vijayakrishnan, state secretary of Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA).
An expert committee headed by Dr B Ekbal had stressed the need for testing all the health care workers who are in the hospitals and the field. However, it has not been implemented to date. “There is an immediate need for testing all the health care workers. More positives among us mean the health care machinery is going to affect. Hence, we will have to go for an all-out antigen test among the doctors, nurses, par medical staff, field staff, etc. The tests may be repeated on those who are being tested negative, the next week,’’ said Dr N Sulphi, state vice president of the Indian Medical Association.
This includes ten doctors, of whom eight are from government hospitals, including five at the medical college hospital. One doctor who was involved in non-Covid care at the general hospital has also tested positive. On July 22 alone, 22 health care workers from the district had tested positive.
The issue has also affected the functioning of the hospitals in the district. A positive case reported from the maternity hospital at Poojappura here has led to a virtual close down as all the three gynecology doctors have gone on quarantine.
At present, almost 300 health care workers are under quarantine in the district, of whom 100 are from the medical college hospital, where at least four wards have been shut. Even the private hospitals in the district are affected by 11 positive cases reported in the last week among health care workers. The nursing students, Asha workers, nurses, junior public health nurses, ambulance drivers, etc. are among the health care workers who have become positive in the district in the one week.
With the situation becoming worse, the district health administration has started testing health care workers employed in the FLTCs and also in other hospitals. “Aggressive testing is needed among health care workers. The people who are working in the containment zones carry the biggest risk. If there is aggressive testing, then we can immediately replace the staff. At present, after a positive result we are quarantining five to ten people who have worked with them,’’ said Dr G S Vijayakrishnan, state secretary of Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA).
An expert committee headed by Dr B Ekbal had stressed the need for testing all the health care workers who are in the hospitals and the field. However, it has not been implemented to date. “There is an immediate need for testing all the health care workers. More positives among us mean the health care machinery is going to affect. Hence, we will have to go for an all-out antigen test among the doctors, nurses, par medical staff, field staff, etc. The tests may be repeated on those who are being tested negative, the next week,’’ said Dr N Sulphi, state vice president of the Indian Medical Association.
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