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Medical staff fight sleep, fatigue in HCMC

By Le Cam   February 10, 2021 | 07:11 pm PT
With the latest Covid-19 outbreak spreading quickly, HCMC medical staff had to work day and night to test thousands of people.
On February 8, after 25 more Covid-19 cases were recorded, in associated with the cases at Tan Son Nhat Airport, pandemic prevention measures were quickly deployed in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. Medical staff in HCMC had to stay up all night to get samples and test for airport staff and residents at the infected areas. From 1:30 p.m. of February 8 until the next day, they have taken the samples for over 1,800 people.

On February 8, after 29 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in a single day, all linked to Tan Son Nhat Airport, health authorities lost no time in deploying pandemic containment and prevention measures. Medical staff in HCMC worked overtime, staying up all night to collect and test samples from staff of the airport and residents in infected areas. From 1:30 p.m. February 8 until the next day, they took samples from over 1,800 people.
The Military Hospital 175 is where Patient 1979, a 27-year-old staff of Tan Son Nhat Airport has been to before he was tested positive with Covid-19. After that, the hospital has isolated and tested all people who were in contact with him.

"Patient 1979", a 27-year-old baggage handler of the Tan Son Nhat Airport, had visited the Military Hospital 175 before he tested positive for the novel coronavirus, being the first Tan Son Nhat staff diagnosed with Covid-19 in the new outbreak. The hospital was isolated and all people who’d come into contact with him had to be tested.
Two medical staff take a short nap after hours of working. While people are busy for the Tet holidays, these medical staff are ready to spend their Tet in the hospital instead of with their families.

One medical staff sits cross legged on the floor and naps while another leans against the wall, resting after hours of non-stop work. While people are busy getting ready for the Tet holidays, medical staff are ready to remain at the hospital, instead of celebrating the festival in the company of family and other loved ones.
Since there’s no bed, the medical staff have to take a rest anywhere possible, like this one who uses a chair to take a nap.

A plastic stool is used as a headrest as two staff sit on the floor to take a break, beds being ruled out.
Vu Nhu Quynh in the Microbiology Department of Military Hospital 175, calls her 5-year-old daughter during break, telling her to take care. I don’t mind working overnight. If the test results come out negative, my efforts will be worth it, she said.

Vu Nhu Quynh of the Microbiology Department at the Military Hospital 175 video calls her 5-year-old daughter during a break.
"I don’t mind working overnight. If the test results come out negative, my efforts will be worth it," she said.
When the neighborhood are already sleeping, the lights are still on at Ward 7 Medical Center, District 11, as the medical staff here keep taking test samples for people in the area.

When the neighborhood is fast asleep, the lights are still on at Ward 7 Medical Center in District 11.
A medical staff in Ward 7 takes a sample of a resident in the night.

A medical staff in Ward 7 takes swab samples from a resident in the night.
A tired staff takes a nap while her colleague is inserting the sample information on a laptop.

A tired staff takes a nap at a table while her colleague inserts sample information on to a laptop.
A staff sits on the step of the medical center to take a short break.

Another staff member takes a break on the steps of the medical center.
All staff have to wear full body protection suits, no matter what the weather.As of Wednesday morning, the city has recorded 33 local cases, 32 linked to Tan Son Nhat and the other linked to the outbreak in the northern Hai Duong Province. The city had tracked, tested and quarantined 2,276 people who had direct or indirect contact with the patients. Of these 1,363 have tested negative and the rest are awaiting results.

All staff have to wear full body protection suits, no matter what the weather.
As of Wednesday morning, the city has recorded 34 local cases, 33 linked to Tan Son Nhat and the other linked to the outbreak in the northern Hai Duong Province. The city had tracked, tested and quarantined 2,276 people who had direct or indirect contact with the patients. Of these 1,363 have tested negative and the rest are awaiting results.

Photos by Tran Chinh, HCMC CDC

 
 
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