HOUSEKEEPING STAFF SECOND PATIENT IN CITY

A housekeeping staffer of a private hospital, who had come in contact with the confirmed case of

Covid-19 while moping and cleaning the floor of the patient’s room, was declared on Wednesday to be the second positive case of Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the city based on preliminary tests.

The techie (patient zero), from Mahendra Hills was admitted to the private hospital in Secunderabad for three days for treatment for cough and cold. The samples of the staff was sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for a second and final round of testing.

The second test is carried out at NIV to ensure that there are no false positives.

The housekeeping staffer, a lady, was in contact with the Covid-19 positive patient for three days at a stretch. As a part of frequent cleaning of the room, she had had close contact with the patient. Each contact with the patient is estimated to be more than 10 minutes.

The health officials collected the samples yesterday. There were a total of 20 medical staffers from the hospital who gave their samples. While the other 19 have not undergone a re-test, it was only one sample which raised concern. The other 19, who are in selfisolation at home, are being routinely followed up with and have so far not shown any symptoms.

A senior doctor from the private hospital, explained, “The testing of one sample going to NIV has led to panic. It is a close call for the staff. Despite counselling that has been taken up, there is panic and an element of fear.”