No quarantine, stay for govt. doctors

They are being sent home right after COVID-19 duty, increasing transmission risk

Not all government doctors in Tamil Nadu are being granted a seven-day quarantine after completion of the week-long duty in COVID-19 isolation wards. In many districts, no accommodation is being provided for doctors on COVID-19 duty, forcing them to return to their houses or hostels, raising the risk of transmission. Last year, government doctors were granted a mandatory seven-day quarantine after COVID-19 duty. They had to undergo compulsory testing to return to work. During their posting in isolation wards and during their quarantine, accommodation was provided to prevent the transmission of infection. “Now, in many places, doctors are being forced to do continuous duty due to manpower shortage. There is no clarity and uniformity on quarantine rules. The government should clarify its stand and grant quarantine, as before, since the virus is causing infections even among vaccinated individuals. There is a need to recruit additional doctors in places where there is a shortage,” said a government doctor on condition of anonymity.