42 RMCH staff put in quarantine

As many as 42 physicians, nurses and employees of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital were put in quarantine on Tuesday as they were thought to have been come in contact with a COVID-19 patient at the hospital.

The regular media briefing of the hospital has also been postponed due to this, said RMCH deputy director Saiful Ferdous.

He said this was the first time a coronavirus infected person came to the hospital directly. Earlier only samples were brought.

Hospital sources said an 80-year-old man from Bagha upazila got admitted to the hospital saying he was suffering from fever and urine infections. The physicians got suspected after conducting an X-Ray and shifted him to the corona observation unit of the hospital.

His samples were collected on Sunday. After tests, the physicians on Monday evening came to know that the man was a COVID-19 patient and immediately sent him to isolation unit, the sources said.

The hospital authorities on Tuesday decided to send everyone related to the person’s treatment process in quarantine.

According to the authorities, 21 physicians of the emergency, casualty, radiology and corona observation units, 12 nurses and nine assistants came in contact of the patient. Their samples will be tested on Wednesday and Thursday.

The patient is currently in isolation unit. The physicians, nurses and other assistants who had been treating him will also be sent in quarantine. According to the directives, the team that would work there for seven days will be put in quarantine for the next 14 days.