70% of Health workers in Assam infected from non-COVID wards

State cases 1,55,453, Active 29,362, Discharged 1,25,540, Death 548

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Only 30% of doctors and Health workers in Assam are getting infected with COVID-19 from the COVID wards in the government and private hospitals. The remaining 70% of doctors and nurses are being infected with the dangerous virus from patients and attendants in the emergency wings and outpatient departments.

"This development can be a case study. It has been found that the number of infection among those doctors and nurses involved in COVID duties are far lower. We are observing that the main infections are coming from patients in the emergency departments and OPDs (Out Patient Department). It is difficult to conduct COVID test on every patient prior to his or her treatment, particularly in cases of emergencies. Our ratio is that 30 per cent of infections are from COVID duties, rest 70 per cent is from non- COVID duties," a senior doctor at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital told The Sentinel.

Over 1500 doctors and other Health workers in Assam have tested positive for coronavirus till the second week of September.

"Wearing PPE kits by all doctors to see all kinds of patients is practically not possible. When a patient in a road accident case, for instance, is admitted in an emergency ward, the first priority of the doctors and nurses would be to save his life. COVID test cannot be a priority. Doctors and nurses are taking a great risk," the doctor said.

On other hand, about six doctors from Assam Medical College & Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh and Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), who were earlier infected with the coronavirus in the line of duty and had later tested negative, have once again developed COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive.

The Regional Medical Research Centre of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) located at Lahowal in Dibrugarh district has started collecting blood samples to find out if these are cases of coronavirus re-infection or not. The Health department officials have refused to comment on the development since these are only cases of "suspected re-infection". 

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