Official warns defying virus SOPs may spell disaster
Coronavirus Management Centre head warns people against taking the disease lightly
An AFP file image.
RAWALPINDI:
Careless behaviour of people for not following government standard operating procedures (SOPs) can lead to a calamity like situation in the country, said Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Khalid Randhahwa.
While many people continue to believe that coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat is over, the growing number of cases in doctors and paramedical staff is a matter of concern said Dr Randhawa who is also the head of Coronavirus Management Centre the largest facility for treating the virus patients in Rawalpindi.
Around 50 health workers including seven doctors, 20 nurses and other paramedical workers have been affected so far at the centre, Dr Randhawa said.
Covid-19 situation was getting out of control very rapidly, he said, adding, "If this trend continues and no steps were taken to break the chain, we fear an exponential growth in the number of cases and deaths in the weeks to come while we are not prepared to deal with this catastrophe.”
Government and the healthcare workers as front-line soldiers are doing utmost to control the pandemic but citizens must acknowledged that being a third world country," We have limited resources."
Dr Randhawa informed that presently 21 ventilators were available at the centre and 10 more would reach in two days. If coronavirus cases continue to grow, even 100 ventilators would be insufficient to deal the crisis.
He said that RIU has treated 900 confirmed cases at the centre so far, out of which 650 have been recovered while 200 positive patients were admitted. The MS informed that 70 confirmed cases were isolated at homes while 26 died due to this deadly disease.
Replying to a question regarding the completion of RIU, he said that around 70 doctors and 250 others including nurses and paramedical staff have been recruited who are presently treating Covid-19 patients.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2020.
Careless behaviour of people for not following government standard operating procedures (SOPs) can lead to a calamity like situation in the country, said Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Khalid Randhahwa.
While many people continue to believe that coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat is over, the growing number of cases in doctors and paramedical staff is a matter of concern said Dr Randhawa who is also the head of Coronavirus Management Centre the largest facility for treating the virus patients in Rawalpindi.
Around 50 health workers including seven doctors, 20 nurses and other paramedical workers have been affected so far at the centre, Dr Randhawa said.
Covid-19 situation was getting out of control very rapidly, he said, adding, "If this trend continues and no steps were taken to break the chain, we fear an exponential growth in the number of cases and deaths in the weeks to come while we are not prepared to deal with this catastrophe.”
Government and the healthcare workers as front-line soldiers are doing utmost to control the pandemic but citizens must acknowledged that being a third world country," We have limited resources."
Dr Randhawa informed that presently 21 ventilators were available at the centre and 10 more would reach in two days. If coronavirus cases continue to grow, even 100 ventilators would be insufficient to deal the crisis.
He said that RIU has treated 900 confirmed cases at the centre so far, out of which 650 have been recovered while 200 positive patients were admitted. The MS informed that 70 confirmed cases were isolated at homes while 26 died due to this deadly disease.
Replying to a question regarding the completion of RIU, he said that around 70 doctors and 250 others including nurses and paramedical staff have been recruited who are presently treating Covid-19 patients.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2020.