Delhi Govt asks Medical Directors to inquire on how their doctors got COVID-19, later retracts order

New Delhi:  Controversy was created by the Delhi Health Department when it first issued an order asking Medical Directors to seek written explanation from their health workers as to how they were infected with Coronavirus. The orders which was issued earlier in the day, was immediately withdrawn by the health department on the same day

As many health professionals in the national capital got infected with coronavirus, the Delhi government on Friday asked the Medical Directors to seek written explanation from such health workers as to how they were infected.

In an order, Padmini Singla, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) said the health workers should explain how they became a contact in spite of wearing the required protective gear, maintaining safe distance and following precautions prescribed for healthcare workers. The order issued stated 

It is reported that many doctors, nurses, paramedics and other staff in nonCOVID hospitals are either getting infected or reported as contact to an infected person and Medical Directors of respective hospitals are indiscriminately sending them in quarantine either at hotels or their homes for 14 days. This practice is causing an unnecessary shortage of doctor & staff at the Hospitals. It seems, it is happening because either hospitals are not following standard SOPs or such persons are not following guidelines prescribed for health care workers.

In view of above, all Medical Directors are directed to obtain written explanation from all such person as how these persons got infected or become a contact in spite of wearing required protective gears, maintaining safe distance and following precautions prescribed for health care workers. Further, Medical Director is required to constitute a team of Doctor to ascertain whether a contact, fulfils the Govt. of India ~ elines to be declared as the contact of positive patient. 

More than 200 health professionals from non-COVID facilities across the national capital have tested positive for coronavirus.

The order soon went viral on social media, with doctors questioning on the absurdity of the order. Generating controversy within the medical fraternity, the order was soon withdrawn by the government 

" The order no....issued on 01/05/2020 regarding shortage of medical staff in the non-COVID hospitals due to infection of doctors and staff, is hereby kept in abeyance till further orders."