Thiruvananthapuram: At least 25 doctors are among 75 employees of a premier health insitute here who have been kept under isolation in the wake of a Spain returned doctor testing positive for coronavirus. Though there is no shut down, only emergency surgeries are being held at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology institute, sources told PTI.The Radiology department has been disinfected according to state protocol.
“We have identified 75 employees, including at least 25 doctors who have come under the primary contact list and they have been placed under isolation”, the sources said. Their family members have been asked to continue in home isolation.
The doctor, who returned from Spain on March 1, came to the hospital the next day wearing gloves and a mask.
He reported to the institute’s infection control team, who in turn informed DISHA, comprising trained social workers and counsellors, who answer questions about COVID-19, was informed, the sources said.
Since Spain had not then been broght under the high risk category and the doctor did not have any symptoms,he was asked by DISHA to wait for five more days and come to the institute.
The doctor came to the hospital on March 10 and there was indirect contact with two patients at the Radiology department. On March 11, after Spain was declared a high risk area, the doctor was asked by the Medical Superintendent to go on leave. He developed symptoms on March 13 and tested positive for the virus. (PTI)
