CHENNAI: The employees of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) working in Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, who are COVID-19 positive and asymptomatic, will be treated at home as hospital beds in Chennai and Nellore go scarce.

An official communication from Shar Controller V Kumbakarnan, accessed by The New Indian Exress, said: "As number of Covid-19 cases in our community has increased and non availability of beds in CHSS
recognized hospitals of Chennai and Nellore, it is decided to treat the asymptomatic patients at home in consultation with team of physicians and senior doctors."

Immediately on diagnosis of COVID-19, the doctors' team will monitor the health status and their family members over phone and medicines will be prescribed. Each family with a positive case will be given a
thermometer and Pulse oxymeter to monitor the health parameters.

The discretion of treating coronavirus patients at home or at hospital shall be decided by medical team on case by case basis. "Priority will be given to those with co morbid conditions and development of symptoms for shifting to CHSS recognized centers based on the availability of beds. However, every effort is taken from the management side to look into the welfare of the employee with utmost care. All are requested to co-operate," the Controller said.

The coronavirus continues to cause panic in India's critical infrastructure facility. In last two days, at least a dozen fresh cases were reported both inside Sriharikota and the employee colonies in Sullurpet.

The space station has already suspended all regular activities temporarily to contain the spread. The official said that the rocket launch station iss functioning with minimum essential/skeletal staff to take care of critical/essential activities. "All employees other than essential services are working from home," sources said.