Doctors On COVID-19 Duty Contract Infection In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Amid the rising COVID-19 cases, four medical practitioners have so far tested positive for the deadly virus in Odisha.

Two senior doctors of Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) on COVID-19 duty are the latest among the medics to have got the infection. An RGH official told a local media that the infected doctors, who hold senior administrative posts, were asymptomatic. They possibly contracted the virus from some undiagnosed infected person while on duty.

On Sunday, the administration collected swab samples of more than 100 RGH employees, including doctors. While the results of 80 samples were negative, reports of the rest 20 are awaited.

A paediatrician posted at City Hospital in Cuttack was the first doctor in the state to test positive for COVID-19 on May 27. The doctor had complained of fever and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

Also Read: Cuttack Begins Contact Tracing Of COVID-Afflicted Doctor

Following this, contact tracing was carried out at CDA Sector, City Hospital and two private nursing homes, one in Cuttack and one in Kendrapada, where he had a clinic. Swab tests of those who came in contact with the doctor were also conducted.

On June 5, a junior doctor of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar tested positive for the virus. The very next day, a doctor working at a COVID hospital in Angul district was also found infected.

Health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection.

On May 31, an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), an Anganwadi worker, sanitary staff (sweeper) and some volunteers engaged at the TMCs at Marsaghai High School and Penthapal cyclone centre had also tested positive for COVID-19.

Following detection of these cases, two wards with 300 households in Marsaghai and Dadhi Sahi in Penthapal with 80 households were declared as containment zones.