Covid-19 Hits Healthcare Services At Capital Hospital As Staff, Doctors Down With Infection

At a time when the State, particularly Khordha district, is witnessing a massive surge in Covid-19 and Omicron cases, regular healthcare services at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar have been severely affected as 30 of its staff, including 10 doctors, have contracted the virus. 

Owing to the third wave surge these days, the Capital Hospital has been struggling to maintain healthcare services up to the mark as the staff are constantly falling victim to Covid-19 infection. So far, the 10 doctors and 20 para-medical staff have been infected with the virus. The services that were earlier managed by three staff are presently managed by a single person. 

When contacted, Deputy-Superintendent of Capital Hospital Dr Dhananjay Das said healthcare services are be9ing provided as per the SOP issued by the State government. 
“The number of Omicron cases is increasing exponentially. At this juncture, if we lower our guard, the situation will be severe,” Das observed.  

“We are strictly following the SOP issued by the State government for hospitals. We have been asked to ensure strict adherence to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour in hospital premises and set up extra counters so that the rush at these counters are less.”

Das said in addition to the above precautions, the hospital has dropped elective surgeries priority is given only to emergency cases, as per the instructions.

“The other protocols followed by the hospital include: allowing one attendant for indoor serious patients, no attendant for ambulatory patient, to avoid frequenter-visit of patients to OPD, to increase the number of DDC counters and set up dedicated clinic for patients suffering from fever, cough and cold so that the transmission can be checked to some extent,” Das said.