The 63-year-old doctor who treated India' first coronavirus victim has tested positive for the disease. The 76-year-old patient had died on March 11.
The doctor treated him in Kalaburagi before he was admitted at a private medical facility in Hyderabad. The doctor's samples were sent to the virology lab in Bengaluru. Deputy commissioner (DC) of the district, Sharath B, confirmed it. But this does lead to more questions.?
The doctor was reportedly under home quarantine along with his family members. Despite administration opening 200-bedded isolation ward at ESI (Employees' State Insurance) hospital, and the individual was at high risk of contracting the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, he was not moved to the isolation ward. His home quarantine continued even after 45-year-old daughter of the first victim tested positive on March 15.?
Now, according to the health officials, he has been moved to isolation ward for further treatment and information on the condition of the doctor was not shared with the press. The DC simply said "63-year-old doctor who treated the 76-year-old man died due to coronavirus, has tested positive. He along with his family had already been kept in home quarantine. He is in an isolation ward today."?
On asking the DC as to why he was earlier not shifted to isolation ward, DC maintained that steps have been taken as per the standard operation procedure and he has not developed any symptoms. However, question arise, why the health staff collected blood and swab samples when there was no symptoms at all or was it a random check? On the other hand DC did not inform where this doctor treated 76-year-old victim, as one doctor checked the victim at home and another two at a private hospital in Kalaburagi.?
Now in Kalaburagi total cases stand at 3 including the deceased and total number of cases in state rose to 10. Over 350 people in Kalaburagi are under observation and 9 people are being kept at isolation ward including the doctor.