43 SCTIMT doctors kept in isolation after one of them tested positive for coronavirus

Team Udayavani, Mar 18, 2020, 2:50 PM IST

Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 43 doctors of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMT) in Thiruvananthapuram have been placed under isolation after a doctor there tested positive for the coronavirus on returning from Spain.

Apart from these medical professionals, Union Minister V Muraleedharan, who visited the institute, on March 14 has placed himself under self-quarantine. Besides Muraleedharan, the district BJP leaders who had accompanied the minister to the SCTIMST have also decided to be in isolation.

The doctor, who returned from Spain on March 1, came to the hospital the next day wearing gloves and a mask.

He reported to the institute’s infection control team, who in turn informed DISHA, comprising trained social workers and counsellors, who answer questions about Covid-19 (coronavirus disease), was informed, the sources said.

Since Spain had not then been brought under the high-risk category and the doctor did not have any symptoms, he was asked by DISHA to wait for five more days and come to the institute.

The doctor came to the hospital on March 10 and there was indirect contact with two patients at the radiology department, the sources said on Monday.

On March 11, after Spain was declared a high-risk area, the doctor was asked by the medical superintendent to go on leave.

He developed symptoms on March 13 and tested positive for the virus. The doctor did not go for any surgery, OP or cathlab procedure while at the hospital, the sources said.

SCTIMST, an institution of national importance under the Department of Science and Technology, has the status of a university and offers research and training facilities.

The doctor who tested coronavirus positive had returned from Spain on March 1 and reported for duty from March 2 onwards.