Two dozen doctors, nurses contract virus

Second wave forces hospital to shut surgical wards, quarantine affected staff

PESHAWAR:

The second wave of the novel coronavirus has infected as many as 24 staffers of the Khyber Teaching Hospital, including doctors, nurses and other employees.

The hospital administration has also been forced to shut down one of its surgical wards as a result of the fast-spreading infection.

In a notification issued on Sunday, the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) confirmed that 16 of its doctors and four nurses, who were working in surgical ward-B of the hospital, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

As a result, the ward has been shut down indefinitely while its staff has been isolated.

The notification further read that at least four employees of the orthopaedic department have also tested positive for the virus.

It further said that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has begun in the province.

The KTH administration has directed its departments to ensure that all Covid-19 precautionary guidelines are followed strictly.

The administration has also urged patients and their attendants to follow standard operating procedures for preventing the spread of the pandemic virus.

To cope with the second wave of coronavirus, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has already directed to take adequate measures. CM Mahmood had said that it was necessary to have an effective mechanism in place for coordination among the relevant public departments for coping with any emergency.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2020.