PATNA: At least eight railway doctors and two support staff of the ECR superspecialty hospital at
Karbigahiya have tested positive for Covid-19. However, a woman doctor of the hospital, who had earlier tested positive, recovered and joined her duty.
Chief medical director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr R K Verma, said there are 34 doctors posted there and eight of them have been home quarantined. The number of patients at its outpatient department (OPD) has increased to 600 per day, he said, adding the doctors and paramedical staff are taking full precautions amid alarming rise in the Covid-19 cases this month.
Verma said the hospital has limited number of isolation beds. But
Covid patients are transferred to Danapur divisional railway hospital at Khagaul, which has been declared a Covid-dedicated hospital.
To reduce the rush of patients at the superspecialty hospital, railways has started ‘telemedicine’ facility round-the-clock in the emergency cell of the hospital, he said, adding this facility has proved a boon to senior citizens and other ailing patients who consult their doctors over phone and get medical advice any time.
According to Danapur divisional railway hospital chief medical superintendent (CMS) Dr Ranjeet Kumar, one doctor of the hospital has so far tested positive for Covid virus. Altogether 39 Covid patients, mostly railway employees and their dependents, were undergoing treatment at the hospital. “The hospital has sufficient equipment and medicines for indoor Covid patients,” he said.
A loco pilot, Ravi Kumar Sinha of Danapur, died of corona on Tuesday while another ticket checking staff posted at
Patna Junction also succumbed to the virus last week, sources said.