News

Mumbai hospital shut after surge in cases among staff

April 6, 2020 06:52 PM


A major private hospital in Mumbai was shut to new patients and declared a coronavirus containment zone on Monday after 26 nurses and three doctors tested positive, an official said.

Since the virus hit India -- which has been under lockdown since March 25 with 109 deaths so far -- medical workers have complained about not being given adequate protective gear.

Mumbai city authority spokesman Vijay Khabale-Patil told AFP that the Wockhardt Hospital has been declared a "containment zone" after the cases were confirmed.

"Three hundred staffers have been quarantined and the hospital is shut," he told AFP.

The United Nurses Association (UNA) in Mumbai accused hospital management of failing to protect staff by refusing to let them wear appropriate safety gear.

"They told the medical staffers to wear simple (surgical) masks... and attend to the patient," said Akash S. Pillai, UNA general secretary for Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital.

"They were thinking that if the staff wore protective gear, family members of COVID-19 patients would get scared," he told AFP.

"Many well-known hospitals in Mumbai and Pune are putting their staffers through the same risks," he said.

He added that Wockhardt waited too long to carry out tests on its staff, thereby increasing the possibility for infections to spread.

India has so far recorded over 4,000 coronavirus cases.

But experts caution the real numbers are likely to be far higher, with the country carrying out little testing of its 1.3 billion population compared to many other countries.

Mumbai, home to 12.5 million people according to the 2011 census, has so far confirmed 458 cases, including five in the Dharavi area, home to one of Asia's biggest slums, and 30 deaths.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOavNaBX4NU


Most Read

  1. School holiday announced throughout Punjab School holiday announced throughout Punjab
  2. Lahore Board extends due date of admission fee for Intermediate 2nd Annual Exam Lahore Board extends due date of admission fee for Intermediate 2nd Annual Exam
  3. Port Qasim Karachi receives its biggest ever cargo vessel ‘DP World’ Port Qasim Karachi receives its biggest ever cargo vessel ‘DP World’
  4. Visa rejection rumors: Ducky Bhai and Momin Saqib in extreme anger Visa rejection rumors: Ducky Bhai and Momin Saqib in extreme anger
  5. Hania Aamir recites Astaghfar after watching Yashma Gill’s bold video Hania Aamir recites Astaghfar after watching Yashma Gill’s bold video
  6. Pakistani rupee’s marathon-run against US dollar continues in interbank Pakistani rupee’s marathon-run against US dollar continues in interbank

Opinion

  1. Orange Line Metro Train: Bridging Nations and Palates – Mr. Yunlin's Unforgettable Moments in Lahore
    Orange Line Metro Train: Bridging Nations and Palates – Mr. Yunlin's Unforgettable Moments in Lahore

    By Ali Ramay

  2. India’s invasion of Kashmir is violation of UN Charter
    India’s invasion of Kashmir is violation of UN Charter

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

  3. World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action
    World Suicide Prevention Day: Creating Hope Through Action

    By Dr Asif Channer

  4. Gender equality: A pre-requisite for a balanced society
    Gender equality: A pre-requisite for a balanced society

    By Mehak Sabir

  5. Time to move on and build a better Pakistan
    Time to move on and build a better Pakistan

    By Murtaza Rafiq Bhutto