HYDERABAD: Two new suspected cases of Coronavirus have been admitted to isolation wards at Fever Hospital and Gandhi Hospital.
The swab samples of both these suspected patients have been collected and been sent to NIV, Pune.
The State is expecting the testing kits from the Centre for the ICMR lab at Gandhi Hospital by Friday. The five previous patients have been discharged as they did not have any visible symptoms, however, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme continues to monitor them at their residences.
Dr G Srinivas Rao, director, Public Health, told Express, “Once the test kits are received, we will have to run a standardization cycle. After that, we can officially start the testing here.”Recent patient is a software engineer in Shanghai
Speaking to Express, the lone 29-year-old patient at Fever Hospital said, “I am a software engineer in Shanghai. I returned from Shanghai via Malaysia to Hyderabad on Wednesday. I was thermal screened at both the airports.”
He added, “However, I developed a sore throat on Thursday and therefore, came to Fever Hospital myself.”
The isolation ward at the hospital carries a sombre look, as many of the exhausted attendants choose to sit outside the ward with their masks and protective gear off. The dimly lit ward, carries a sterile smell.
One of the attendants at the isolation ward in Fever Hospital said, “Due to the fear of contracting the virus, we visit the patient during treatment times only, or when required. However, we do not sit inside the ward, because constantly wearing a mask is exhausting. However, a fresh mask is a must, every time we enter the ward.”