Front line staff’s safety a concern

62 health workers, 14 police personnel have tested positive

26/04/2020, SERENA JOSEPHINE M.,CHENNAI

A health worker carries out thermal screening in Pudupet. B. Velankanni Raj

Front line workers, particularly healthcare providers/workers, testing positive for COVID-19 has once again raised safety concerns in Tamil Nadu.

In the past few weeks, many front line workers, including government and private doctors and paramedical personnel and police personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to officials, 62 healthcare providers/workers and 14 police personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 till April 24. Besides, 38 mediapersons have tested positive. Many contacts of affected front line workers have also tested positive.

Chennai, in specific, had two groups of COVID-19 patients — the cardiology department of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and mediapersons. A senior doctor said that the cardiology department had about 20 persons, including nine postgraduates, who had tested positive for COVID-19.

“According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 80% of COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic. In such a situation, we will not know who is infected. So providing personal protective equipment (PPE) only to those on duty in COVID-19 wards is not enough,” said A. Ramalingam, State organising secretary of the Service Doctors and PG Association.

“All medical and paramedical staff in regular outpatient departments, those handling emergency cases and those performing interventional procedures should be given safety gear,” he said.

Doctors, staff nurses, laboratory technicians, CT/X-ray technicians, ward staff and hospital workers should have safety gear. All patients walking into a hospital should be considered a potential COVID-19 patient, and all healthcare providers should be tested for COVID-19, he said.

K. Senthil, president, Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association, said that the government should concentrate on the quality of PPEs and N95 masks provided to healthcare providers.

Another doctor said the goggles were small and doctors, who wore spectacles, were unable to use them.

P. Pakalavan, Deputy Commissioner of Police- Adyar, said: “Our men are at the front line, and we are taking utmost care of their safety,” he said.

‘Govt.’s priority’

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar said the safety of front line workers was a priority of the government.

“We have recommended kabasura kudineer and nilavembu kudineer as prophylaxis for them. As per allopathy, they will be given zinc tablets, along with multivitamin or vitamin-C tablets,” he said.

The Health Department, in a circular, recommended drug and herbal powder to the police and healthcare workers on COVID-19 duty.