Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 23: As COVID-19 cases are increasing with each passing day across Jammu and Kashmir, the health experts here have advised people to avoid the unnecessary visits to hospitals as the chances of catching the virus in hospitals where Covid-19 patients are being treated, is higher.
Flu expert and President Doctors Association of Kashmir Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that as there are no specially designed isolation rooms in most of our hospitals so there are high chances of getting the virus.
“There are no negative pressure isolation rooms and contaminated air can go anywhere and in such cases non covid patients especially patients suffering from severe diseases, attendants and even staff are at high risk mainly in those hospitals where both Covid and non-COVID patients are treated,” he said.
He said that if non-Covid patients and staff contract virus, it can disrupt the health care system and there is a need to avoid overcrowding.
“There should be specially designed rooms, dedicated ICU and ventilator besides other gadgets and seperate entrance for Covid-19 patients and staff should take comprehensive care of patients so that whole dynasties should not be compelled to come to hospital,” he said.
Hassan said there should be adequate supply of life saving drugs like Remedivisr and such drugs should be administered to patients by staff and attendants shouldn’t be compelled to go from pillar to post for the want of such medicines.
Another senior doctor from SKIMS Soura said that the hospitals are not designed to deal with Covid-19 and what is being done here is adjustments.
“In such a situation, people must avoid needless visits to hospital and only attendants should be allowed to remain with patients because attendants can also become spreaders of virus,” he said.
“Unfortunately, amid the shortage of staff, attendants have to do all the work, but amid the surge in Covid-19 cases, people should avoid unnecessary visits to the hospital,” he said.
