Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati has taken proactive steps to face the second wave of COVID-19, if the need arises. The institute has re-started thermal screening of all patients and visitors entering the hospital building, including hand sanitization. For patients needing admission, endoscopies, and surgery, the institute has started testing for coronavirus in the institute’s dedicated virology laboratory. The laboratory was set up by the National Health Mission and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam last year in July. Also, a dedicated Covid ward has been started to admit patients who test positive for the coronavirus or COVID-19. Wearing masks while entering the institute is now mandatory, and multiple mask depots are stationed in various places of the institute for patients or attendants who do not bring their own mask. Also, measures such as sweeping of floors are being replaced by cleaning with soap based water to prevent dust aerosols.

According to Dr Amal Chandra Kataki, Director of BBCI, we have garnered enough experience from last year’s first wave. Around 120 healthcare workers including doctors of the institute were infected last year, and we successfully treated 90 cancer patients with COVID-19 in our dedicated Covid ward. Of them, nine patients succumbed due to cancer and not due to COVID-19. Two cancer patients were shifted to the ICU of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for further management of COVID-19. So far, in the second wave, six healthcare workers are now infected. Three of these infected staff were not vaccinated, and while two of them were vaccinated, their disease is very mild though. Of 120 infections of last year, one of our healthcare workers has been re-infected this time. Thanks to the Tata Memorial Center, Mumbai, BBCI has received a few oxygen concentrators from the United States and there should not be any shortage of oxygen at BBCI in near future for COVID-19 patients requiring cancer care. Irrespective of previous infection status for coronavirus, a person should still get vaccinated, further informed Dr Kataki.