Telangana: Covid positive doctor told to report for night duty; probe ordered

HYDERABAD: A government doctor, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, was forced to attend night duty in Jangaon district hospital on the night of September 8, authorities said.
While contact tracing is underway to check how many persons he could have possibly infected, district authorities have also ordered a probe.
The doctor's wife, who is also a physician in the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) in Jangaon, and another family member had earlier tested positive. The doctor got himself tested despite having no symptoms of Covid-19 and the report came in at 5 pm on September 8, confirming his positive status.
As he was supposed to report for the night shift at 8pm, the doctor reportedly decided not go and informed his superiors that he should be in quarantine.
“But he was apparently asked by a senior hospital staff member to come for work because the roster had his name for night duty,” said a senior health department official.
Perplexed at the turn of events, and possibly to save his job, the doctor went to work, wearing a PPE suit to discharge his duties.
After the doctor spoke about his predicament to his colleagues, senior district officials realised the gravity of the situation and asked him to not come back to the hospital from September 9.
“It is mandatory for anyone, including doctors, to be in isolation in home for 17 days,” DMHO A Mahender said, adding that he was told that the doctor had not treated anyone on September 8..
Now, district health authorities have begun to probe under what circumstances the doctor was asked to work. “I have asked for a report to be submitted on the issue,” Jangaon collector K Nikhila told TOI.
Another official said if it was proved that he was forced to work, despite being Covid-19 positive, action will be taken against those responsible.