Delhi: Doctors fear crisis as healthcare workers start testing Covid positive – ET HealthWorld

AIIMS reported 68 healthcare workers, including 15 doctors, testing positive for the viral infection in the week ending January 2. More cases have been added in the last two days. At Safdarjung Hospital, the number of Covid cases among healthcare workers is around 50. Lady Hardinge Medical College, Ram Manohar Lohia, Hindu Rao, Lok Nayak and Ambedkar hospitals have also reported several cases among their staff.

Doctors feel the Covid outbreak in hospitals continuing could trigger a manpower crisis. “Some of the departments in our hospital are already facing a manpower shortage after several resident doctors tested positive and others, who were in direct contact with them, had to isolate themselves,” said a doctor at Safdarjung Hospital.

At AIIMS, the administration has ordered faculty members to cut short their winter vacations in view of the rising Covid cases and the probable need for increased manpower. “Covid among healthcare workers has spiked suddenly in the last three or four days. Almost every third person has symptoms of infection. Some are getting tested while others are isolating themselves,” revealed Dr Anuj Aggarwal, general secretary, Resident Doctors’ Association of Safdarjung Hospital.

In the US, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued an advisory stating that healthcare workers who test positive for Covid could return to work after five days. Aggarwal said similar steps may be taken in India if the crisis persisted.

At present, Aggarwal added, an advisory issued by AIIMS states that a healthcare worker testing positive for Covid should be isolated for a week. “In Safdarjung Hospital, isolation is advised for 10 days,” he added.

Unlike the US and the UK, where a significant percentage of healthcare workers have received the booster, or third additional dose of the Covid vaccine, the process is yet to begin in India and will start on January 10.

“Our postgraduate training has already been affected badly due to the pandemic. This third wave will derail it further,” rued a senior resident at Lok Nayak Hospital. “But that’s not all. I am distressed at even having to contemplate another Covid wave. It brings back memories of the second wave when we lost many patients despite every possible effort.”