Initially, it was non-medical support staff at the COVID-19 hospitals but it has now emerged that doctors have also tested positive. (Photo Courtesy: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 18
Stretched to the limit, is how one would describe the Nagaland state government’s medical workforce, currently. Burnout as a result of working day in and day out, with hardly any break since March, has been one of many major concerns.
Over and above, a doctor or nurse contracting COVID-19 in the line of work is the last thing the State Government would want in such a situation.
Initially, it was non-medical support staff at the COVID-19 hospitals but it has now emerged that doctors have also tested positive.
As disclosed to The Morung Express, two doctors on active duty at the Dimapur COVID-19 Hospital were tested positive for the virus. One has already recovered while the other was admitted at the COVID-19 Hospital as on August 18.
According to an official source, the doctor was on active duty at the Hospital when he displayed symptoms. “His sample was taken and the confirmatory test result returned positive on August 17. His wife also tested positive,” the source said.
Both were immediately admitted to the COVID-19 Hospital and their conditions were said to be stable.
Shortened rest days
Reduced number of quarantine period and (off-duty) rest is also said to be taking a toll on the medical front-liners. As per the earlier COVID-19 guideline for medical workers, the schedule was 7 days of active duty followed by 14 days of institutional quarantine and 7 days in home isolation.
However, the source said that the work schedule was modified around June. Since then, he said that the work schedule for the doctors and nurses has turned into “7 days active duty and 7 days institutional quarantine. On the 8th day of quarantine, sample for COVID-19 test is taken. If negative, we are sent home for two days of rest. After the two days of rest, the work cycle resumes.”
