NEW DELHI: Eight hundred people are under home quarantine after a doctor, working at a mohalla clinic in northeast Delhi, tested positive for coronavirus. Despite the setback, the Delhi government has decided to keep the Aam Aadmi mohalla clinics fully functional during the 21-day lockdown so that people are not inconvenienced.
An official from the Shahdara District Magistrate’s office said more residents were being identified. The infection began when a woman who returned from Saudi Arabia visited the doctor. The doctor’s wife and daughter also tested positive for the infection.
“In Delhi, a mohalla clinic doctor is suffering from Coronavirus… There are rumours that mohalla clinics will be closed... This is completely wrong information because we will ensure every mohalla clinic is fully functional during this tough time,” said CM Arvind Kejriwal. “Government won’t shut clinics as this will inconvenience people. We will ensure the safety of all doctors and their tests will be done regularly.” Some doctors working at mohalla clinics are worried about the non-availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) kit and the lack of transportation.
“We were told that the clinic can be opened but at our own risk. The clinic staff has refused to come as there is no transport. How can a doctor alone operate the clinic?” questioned a doctor. Several calls to health officials for a response went unanswered. In a related development, the government has decided that in the next 24 hours, all healthcare workers and doctors directly involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients or gathering test samples from suspected cases would be tested. Hospitals allocated for the purpose are LNJP Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, DDU Hospital, GTB Hospital and Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital.
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