8-yr-old boy, nurse test positive for COVID-19 in Kolkata
Kolkata, May 1 () An eight-year-old boy, admittedto the Indian Institute of Child Health (ICH) here withrespiratory distress, and a nurse at the facility have testedpositive for COVID-19, sources at the hospital said on Friday.
At least 10 more nurses at the hospitals neo-natalunit and a ward boy are currently down with fever, the sourcessaid.
It is not known whether they are also infected withthe coronavirus as their samples have not been collected yet.
The boy, a resident of Karaya Road, was rushed to thehospital on Thursday morning after he complained of uneasinessand breathing problems. His samples were sent for examinationshortly thereafter.
His father, when contacted by , said the boy hadbeen suffering from breathing problems since birth and had norecent travel history.
"Ours is a small family of four and no one is ill.It's surprising and shocking that my son got infected," thefather, a bank employee, said.
A senior official at the ICH said the boy's parentswere told to take him to MR Bangur hospital on Friday morningafter he tested positive for the disease. His nose and throatswabs were sent to the Tata Medical Centre in Rajarhat forexamination.
The 34-year-old nurse, who was also found to havecontracted the disease, is a resident of Jibantala in South 24Parganas, ICH sources said.
The mother of a six-year-old has been working at theneo-natal unit of the ICH.
All 10 nurses, who are down with fever, are hercolleagues at the unit, sources said.
A nurse at the facility, speaking on the condition ofanonymity, complained that medical workers, who chose to stayback at the hospital amid the lockdown, were living in crampedquarters without proper protection.
"At least 26 of us are putting up in a cramped room atthe hospital. We have not been given any mask or protectivegear. We dont know what's in store for us. We are quitescared," she said.
Nobody from the hospital administration wasimmediately available for comments.
Meanwhile, over 35 health workers, including doctorsat the Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital, have beenplaced under quarantine after two of their colleagues testedpositive for the disease, health department officials said. SCH RMSSK SK