As healthcare workers test positive, lack of guidelines hurts the system, say doctors

‘Many doctors and paramedical personnel are falling ill, and it is difficult to run the institutions’

With healthcare workers continuing to test positive for COVID-19 across the State, the absence of clear-cut guidelines for quarantine leave and isolation is hurting the system, say doctors .

The present rapid spread of COVID-19 has not spared healthcare workers (HCWs). Inquiries with doctors working in a number of government hospitals showed that a significant number of HCWs have tested positive for the virus and in many cases, they remain asymptomatic as well.

A doctor working in an affiliated institute of Madras Medical College said there were several cases of re-infections among healthcare workers. “Doctors know the specificity and sensitivity of the RT-PCR test. So, if a test result returns negative for a HCW, having typical symptoms, they have to repeat the test. However, this is not being done. They should not decide negative results with a single test. Continuous exposure is affecting several HCWs,” he said.