On Thursday, the cardiology services were suspended at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) as five more doctors from the department — four PG and one faculty were tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier on Wednesday, four PG doctors from the department were tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease.

A similar situation has been predicted in the hospital’s gastroenterology department. As per the sources, a senior doctor from the department was tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. The number of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers from the department of cardiology who are expected to contract the disease is expected to increase in coming days as many of the staff members are showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Due to the present situation, the decision to suspend the department’s services was taken on Thursday. Dr N Satyanarayana, NIMS superintendent told Express that the cardiology department’s services are going to be suspended and the building will be thoroughly sanitised. All the doctors and other staff who are tested positive would be treated at the hospital only. Cardiology department is one of the largest departments at NIMS, with more than 200 staff.

Approximately, one-fourth of NIMS’ cardiology department staff are doctors and the remaining staff are nurses, sanitation workers, technicians and other healthcare workers. Currently, the faculty and PG doctors from other departments are worried as several of them have come in contact with the doctors who tested positive.

The senior doctors of NIMS told Express that the State government should test all the other employees of the hospital, despite whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic. Also, in the last few days, several PG doctors and interns at Osmania Medical College have tested positive for COVID-19.

Source: The New Indian Express