Doc who went to Spain turns positive

Thiruvananthapuram: The fourth positive case reported from the state capital is a doctor working with the radiology department of a hospital in the city.
This doctor had gone to Spain for a conference and had returned to the state capital on March 2. He joined duty and worked at the hospital till March 8. However, he developed fever symptoms after that and he was asked to go on leave for 14 days.
The doctor later contacted the health department and informed about the travel he had made to Spain. His swab sample was taken on March 11 and the result had come on Saturday night. He has been on self-isolation ever since he had gone on leave from the hospital.
However, the authorities at the hospital where he was working made it clear that there was nothing to worry even though he was not in quarantine till March 8 after coming back from Spain.
“He was in the radiology department and he never had direct interaction with the patients. However, he had contact with the four other people who have been working in the same department,’’ said an official of the hospital.
Since Spain was not in the high-risk category the doctor was allowed to join for duty. It was only on March 11 that Spain was included in the list of worst-hit countries. “But we conducted a test on him soon after he showed the symptoms of fever. After this he was asked to go on leave,’’ said a doctor from the hospital.
At present those who had been working with him in the same department and also the people who had mingled with him have been asked to go on self-isolation. Four people have been identified as primary contacts. But the hospital authorities made it clear that no one has shown any symptoms.