By Mala Karna and Dev Ram Yadav, Saptari, Aug. 7: Surgical and Emergency services of the Rajbiraj-based Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital have been closed starting from Friday morning due to the shortage of health professionals as 34 health workers of the hospital have been placed in isolation or quarantine after contracting COVID-19.  

Dr. Ranjit Jha, acting medical superintendent of the hospital, informed that acute shortage of human resource has compelled the hospital to reduce its services. He said seven health workers have been kept in isolation while 27 health professionals including four doctors have been sent to the quarantine.

A difficult situation has arisen here as health professionals have been getting infected while we have to ensure services in emergency ward, OPD, Indoor, Gynecology and in the isolation wards.

Dr. Jha said shortage of human resource erupted after the health professionals needed to be kept in isolation and quarantine for seven of them got infected with the deadly virus in a week and those who came in close contact with the seven had to be quarantined.

Surgery of Gynecology was also closed after an anesthetic doctor was placed in quarantine, according to him.  

"We are nine remained, five doctors and four health workers, and it is difficult to run all services in the hospital by us," said Dr. Jha.

With the daily rise in the infection cases, Saptari District Administration has issued prohibitory order until Aug 10 in the district in order to curb the spread of the virus.