Maharashtra: Doctors say, 'swab collection a high risk job'

The entire country is fighting coronavirus by sitting at home and observing social distancing. This is the only way through which the deadly virus will vanish. But the healthcare workers do not have the luxury to sit at home and follow social distancing. 

They are the ones who are at high risk who can contract infection. Nevertheless, they are working hard to treat patients and carry out treatment. 

A doctor working at a hospital for treatment of coronavirus patients in Maharashtra has revealed that they face challenges in collecting swab samples of the suspected patients.

The process of swab sample collection of a person does not take more than 30 to 40 seconds, but it is a "high risk job", Dr Pushkar Dahiwal, who collects 80 to 100 swab samples in a day at the government hospital in Aurangabad.

"We work for three days and then remain self- quarantined for 14 days," he informed.

During the six-hour duty, doctors have to keep wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE) and amidst the fast paced work, they do not even get a chance to drink water, he said.

"We need to finish the work in a short time to avoid contact with patients and also with those who come to give their swab samples," the doctor said.

A 10 to 12 cm long stick is used to collect sample from a person''s throat, while the stick used for collecting sample from nose is comparatively longer and thinner, he said.

"Before the person coughs or sneezes, we need to finish sample collection. Being a dentist, I have the practice of handling the patient''s mouth area," he said.

The nurse and other accompanying staff also need to stay alert as the swab samples are to be sealed immediately and kept in a proper storage facility, he said.

"If the swab sample falls, it would be a problem. All these things have to be completed in a very short span of time. So, there is no scope for mistake," he added.