In an already stressed situation, more than 100 nurses, doctors, students and staff of Jorhat Medical College and Hospital had to be quarantined following the COVID-19 positive results of a surgeon and intern of the hospital on Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner Roshni A Korati said that she has sought an explanation from the Principal and Superintendent of JMCH Dr Atul Bari as to how the surgeon had gone and come back from Guwahati in these days and if his swab had been taken after his return why had he been allowed to operate on patients before the results came.
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“We are all working day and night taking swabs, conducting tests, quarantining, sanitizing and monitoring but if a doctor behaves in this manner, it is very irresponsible on his part to go and come from Guwahati in a vehicle marked with a doctor’s cross and the authorities for allowing him to work without his test results coming out, ” the deputy commissioner said.
Korati further said that the Surgery and Anaesthesiology wings as well as Orthopaedics and the histel where the intern had stayed were now all containment areas and have had to be thoroughly sanitized.
The intern who was earlier engaged in triage and had been transferred to the Orthopaedics department of the hospital on Sunday had been tested on Monday after she had complained of suffering from fever.
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The DC said that the intern had come into contact with 70 persons (including the hostel inmates) and the surgeon with 35 persons including staff, nurses and others of Anesthesiology and Surgery.
“So many persons of the medical profession who could be engaged in COVID-19 work are now out of commission, ” the DC said.
Meanwhile, the Joint Director of Health conducted random swab tests in crowded places of Jorhat on Wednesday and the same will be carried out on Thursday as well.
The district administration has declared a lockdown of all areas under Jorhat Municipal Board from 7 pm from July 9 to July 15.