HYDERABAD: Altogether 200 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, have tested positive for novel
coronavirus in Telangana since March, even as dozens of more samples are being tested across the state.
While some of the healthcare workers infected in mid-March and April were discharged after recovery, over the past few days the infection among doctors has been increasing.
The "staff on Covid- 19 duty" category had more than 50 positive cases itself by mid-May, mostly nurses, paramedical staff and others in hospitals. The rest of the cases were reported in the past few days, including 70 doctors.
The first case of two private doctors getting infected from the virus surfaced in Domalguda area of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in March. Later, most cases of medical staff came from
GHMC areas of Jiaguda and Amberpet, before the virus started to spread among doctors in government hospitals.
Some cases have come from Jogulamba Gadwal, Mahbubangar, Rangareddy and
Nizamabad
.
Doctors in two minds over use of HCQThe staff who tested positive are from both government and private hospitals, including technicians and administrative officials. “I had simple headache and was little dull. But when I opted for Covid-19 test, the result was positive. After 14 days of treatment, I’m back in hospital for work,” said a Covid warrior who works with a hospital in Nizamabad.
With cases increasing and government urging doctors to have hydroxychloroquine, some are apparently in two minds. “Government should see if those infected are taking their HCQ dose or not,” said a senior government doctor, who works with general medicine wing.
Health experts said patients were being discharged without being tested again. “They are advised treatment at home and health staff monitor them, so giving ground staff proper PPEs is crucial,” an official said.
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