Lucknow: 4 nurses among 15 test Covid-19 positive, 5 hospitals partially shut for sanitization

LUCKNOW: Four nurses and two employees engaged in non-medical work at two superspecialty Covid-19 hospitals were among 15 new cases of novel coronavirus infection reported in the city on Wednesday, taking the tally to 417 so far.
Fresh patients also included five migrants, a resident of New Hyderabad and a sanitary worker from PGI area. Five hospitals – three private and two missionary – were partially closed for sanitization.
“The nurses are from a missionary hospital in Mahanagar who had come in contact with a pregnant woman who was tested positive last week.Fresh admissions to the hospital have been stopped and it has been closed for sanitization,” chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Narendra Agarwal said.
“Another missionary hospital in Niralanagar was also partially closed after a businessman who was under treatment there was tested positive,” he said.
A data entry operator (25) from Utrathiya, who worked at Covid-19 hospital of SGPGIMS, had fever when he came for duty on May 25. Hospital authorities took his sample and asked him to stay in home quarantine.
Though the report was negative, he was asked to stay at home and tested again after five days. This time, he tested positive. Similarly, a contractual worker and a resident of Chinhat, who collected laundry from Covid-19 hospital of RMLIIMS was also diagnosed with Covid-19 after he developed sore throat.
Total 21 health workers or people engaged in hospital work have tested positive so far. The CMO said prima facie both seem to have acquired infection at the hospital, but we are trying to zero in on the exact source.
Director, SGPGIMS, Dr RK Dhiman said, “The operator used to sit in zero area where there is no contact with patient or their attendants. Besides, employees in zero area have also been provided masks and gloves.”
RMLIMS spokesperson Dr Srikesh Singh, “The laundryman was given masks and gloves by his company and he used to collect laundry from zero area.”
A heart patient who had come from Mau for treatment at RMLIMS was diagnosed with Covid-19 following which ECG unit was closed for 24 hours for sanitization and health workers he came in contact with have been quarantine.
Meanwhile, New Dilkusha Colony in Chinhat has been converted into a containment zone after four cases surfaced from the area this week.