Outdoor service goes on at hotel as hospital under lockdown

Outpatients have been receiving medical services at a local hotel since Tuesday noon as the Khaliajuri upazila health complex in Netrakona has been locked down after a nurse tested positive for Covid-19. 

Maintaining social distancing, doctors, who did not come in contact with the infected nurse, have been providing regular medical treatment to outdoor patients at the hotel.

Khaliajuri Upazila Nirbahi Officer AHM Ariful Islam said, "Considering healthcare of the people in the upazila, we have started providing outdoor medical treatment from that hotel. We will transfer the facility elsewhere if needed."

On Friday, the local administration put health complex under lockdown immediately after the hospital's nurse tested positive. 

Later, about 20 employees at the health complex, including three doctors, who came in contact with the nurse, were sent to self-quarantine.

As there was no other medical centre in the upazila located in the haor area, local people suffered due to the closure of the hospital, upazila health officials said.

In such a situation, the local upazila administration and the health department decided to provide emergency medical care at a hotel named "Rainbow Hotel" in front of the Khaliajuri rest house. The commercial activities of the hotel remain closed temporarily.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (acting) Dr Masrur Siam said some of the doctors, nurses and staff of the hospital are treating outdoor patients only at the hotel.