The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sealed Mumbai central’s Wockhardt hospital earlier after several nurses and three doctors were tested positive for the coronavirus or COVID-19. Over 40 nurses have been tested positive for COVID-19 at South Mumbai’s hospital.
As this happened, the civic body declared the Wockhardt hospital as a containment zone. All the nurses from the team who have tested positive, are now being treated at the hospital and doctors are being treated at Seven Hills and SL Raheja Hospitals respectively.
Earlier, United Nurses Association (UNA) blamed the hospital on not being able to segregate COVID19 suspects and providing the necessary equipment for safety purposes.
Talking about the incident, Wockhardt Group Chairman, Habil Khorakiwala informed ET that a cardiac patient was operated in the middle of March after which he was tested positive for the COVID-19. The hospital isolated the patient after he showed signs of the disease but it was only after 5-6 days.
“We lost about 7-8 days not knowing that all our health workers, doctors were interacting with him (patient) and others also. Once the patient was tested, we isolated him and informed BMC on a daily basis about what happened and was happening. We mutually decided with BMC to lock our hospital and facility,” Chairman of Wockhardt Group was quoted as saying.
Khorakiwala further stated that all the patients and hospital staff who were present remain isolated in the hospital. Over 60-70 patients have been tested and have been tested as negative as of now. “Everyone is completely isolated, each patient is kept in one single room,” the chairman added.Furthermore, Khorakiwala revealed that the spread of infection was from the non-COVID-19 area of the hospital while stating that the healthcare workers had “adequate” PPEs.
“There are two parts of the hospital, one designated for COVID-19 patients while the rest of the hospital was admitting normal patients for treatment. So the infection happened from the non-COVID area,” Khorakiwala said.
However, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Suresh Kakani earlier stated that the team should have taken necessary precautionary measures, calling this an unfortunate situation. A team of health officers are investigating the matter to trace the first case through which it could spread in the hospital. Further, all the other 270 staff members are some patients are being tested too.
Also Read - Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital Sealed; 26 Nurses And Three Doctors Test Positive
Share
Tweet
