Odisha: AIIMS’ top official hid Covid-19 positive son’s travel history

nBHUBANESWAR: Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar have written to the institute’s director demanding action against the medical superintendent for allegedly hiding the travel history of his 19-year-old son, who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday, before bringing him to the hospital.

The son of AIIMS medical superintendent Dr Sachidananda Mohanty had recently returned from United Kingdom and was in Delhi before he took a flight to Bhubaneswar on March 18. He was allowed to go home after being screened at Biju Patnaik International Airport.

However, on March 19, he complained of breathing problems and was taken to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar where he was kept in the isolation ward of the hospital. However, the Resident Doctors Association (RDA), alleged that the medical superintendent and the isolation unit in-charge hid the travel history of the 19-yearold.

“The patient was brought to the isolation unit and kept in the doctor’s room, with his travel history concealed. The patient was not admitted for 12 hours... It is both medical and administrative negligence on the part of the superintendent who did not reveal hat he is a direct contact, thus risking the spread of Covid-19,” the letter from the RDA said.

Official spokesperson for Covid-19 in Odisha, Subroto Bagchi, said the 19-year-old had come in contact with at least 46 persons of which 43 have been identified.

This is the second case of Covid-19 in Odisha.