Panic grips PHC Kunzer after doctor treats COVID-19 suspect

Panic stricken PHC Kunzer. —Excelsior/Aabid Nabi
Panic stricken PHC Kunzer. —Excelsior/Aabid Nabi

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 6: Panic gripped Public Health Centre (PHC), Kunzer in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after a suspected COVID-19 patient was treated today at the facility before being referred to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.
The officials said that the patient hailing from Tangmarg was brought to the facility which was initially thought to be a cardiac issue. However, after the doctor who attended the patient took him to the emergency room where he was given the initial first aid.
To utter surprize of the doctor who attended to the patient, the patient was wearing all the classic symptoms of COVID-19 infection which included fever and respiratory distress.
Block Medical Officer (BMO), Kunzer told Excelsior that they at the PHC are receiving the patients in a tent that has been erected outside the facility and only the pregnant women who come to routine check-ups are housed inside the facility.
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“Normally, he was attended by the doctor and given his condition; we brought him inside and oxygenated him. During that, the doctor found out that he had the symptoms of COVID-19 and could be a suspect; and referred him to Srinagar for further treatment,” she said.
Reacting to the reports that the doctor who attended the patient was still seeing the patients, she said that the doctor was in protective gear and she was not exposed to the infection, if any.
“The doctors wear the necessary gear while they are dealing with the patients, in this case also, the doctor was fully protected; however, one employee has gone into quarantine,” she said.
She also said that everything was carried out as per protocol. The facility was sanitized in order to be on the safer side. “We did everything as per protocol and there was no breach at all,” she said.
The doctor said that they receive such patients almost every day and every time they follow the protocol and do the needful.
It is pertinent to mention here that scores of healthcare workers across Kashmir have tested positive for COVID-19 infection after getting exposed to the suspected patients.