The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has written to the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan demanding amendment in the latest quarantine guidelines of health workers as more and more frontline workers have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the national capital. According to a report, one in every 30 infected people is a health worker.
FORDA President Shivaji Dev Barman said that even after taking all the necessary precautions, the doctors have tested positive for COVID-19.
“Many asymptomatic patients are testing positive following the second test or subsequently. Under the current circumstances, 14-day quarantine along with adequate testing after COVID-19 duty is a necessity in order to prevent infection among their colleagues and families,” said Dr Barman.
“Under the current circumstance, adequate quarantine along with adequate testing for all doctors, following COVID duty, is a necessity in order to prevent the spread of the infection among colleagues, family members, and in the community. Resident doctors in different parts of the country have already raised their objections peacefully,” he added.
FORDA President said that with an upsurge in the number of doctors testing positive for COVID-19 in the national capital, the healthcare system might soon collapse due to a shortage of adequate manpower.
“We hereby urge you to kindly take note of the concerns of Resident Doctors working at the frontline and make necessary Amendment in the latest Quarantine Guideline,” he said in the letter.
Earlier, Dr Shivaji demanded that every doctor in a hospital should be provided PPE kits. At present, only those working at COVID centres are provided with the kit.
So far, 1510 people have been infected by the deadly virus in the national capital and more than 3 per cent of them are health workers. Health workers of over 14 hospitals and 2 mohalla clinics have been infected by the COVID-19. Out of these hospitals, nine are run by the government and 5 of them are private.
