Several Keralite nurses at Mumbai hospital test positive for COVID-19

46 Keralite nurses at Mumbai hospital test positive for COVID-19
Municipal workers shift beds to a makeshift quarantine centre for COVID-19 related cases, being set up as the first one in Borivali, in Mumbai, Saturday. Photo: PTI

Mumbai: Several Keralite nurses working at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai were reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Some reports said 26 nurses were tested positive while others put the figures at 46.

Three doctors were also tested positive, suggested reports.

Covid-19 is the disease caused by coronavirus.

The hospital's out patient department and emergency services were shut, informed a spokesperson for the Wockhardt hospital. "There will be no admissions till further orders," he said. However, he did not clarify how many employees were infected with coronavirus.

The Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation has declared the hospital as containment zone. No one will be allowed to enter or leave the hospital untill the virus has been contained.

The United Nurses' Association (UNA) has blamed Wockhardt Hospital authorities for the situtation. It said the hospital failed to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and segregate suspected or confirmed Covid-19 nurses. It also said the hospital delayed to quarantine and testing of nurses.

According to The Times of India, 265 nurses from the hospital are currently under observation. Besides, it has suspended all non-emergency services.

The nurses' association has sent letters to the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Kerala to look into the issue.

Jibin TC, president of the Maharashtra chapter of the association said, the hospital did not quarantine Covid-19 infected nurses. "The hospital put the nurses who were staying with their Covid-19 affected colleagues on duties. One nurse, who was directly exposed to Covid-19, was on duty till April 1 ," he said.

A doctor, who ran a clinic at Dharavi, had first tested positive for COVID-19. He also worked at the private hospital at Mumbai Central.

Another person, who sought treatment for a non-COVID-19 ailment at this hospital, was found to have contracted the disease.

Over 10 people, including nurses who cared for him, also got infected. The virus was then transmitted to over 50 staff at the hospital.

Maharashtra has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases in India on Sunday. As many as 690 people have so far tested positive from the state and 45 people have died due to the infection.

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