My journey to quarantine Centre

My journey to quarantine Centre......... Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital

On 26^th June 2020,  it was a rainy day, I remember I was driving back home from my office, as I  reached Bhangagarh ,  I found there was traffic jam. There was water logging near the bhangagarh bridge. All the vehicles had come to a standstill. Somehow I managed to reach home struggling for an hour.

I was fully exhausted, somehow managed to take bath  and  had tea. My body had given up, I went to sleep . I had to take crocin to get relief of the body pain. In the morning I could not gather confidence to drive for work. I guess in the night I had switched on AC and as a result there developed throat irritation . I decided to confine myself to home. I took leave that day.

The next day of my leave I resumed my duty. We conducted meetings  maintaining social distance as per schedule.

In one of our meetings, I remember a member informed that she had undergone treatment of COVID 19, we got little panicy, we some how managed to conclude the meeting  that day.

On June 29,the HK manager reported that there was some issue with the canteen dept. so  we called the Canteen in-charge along with the dietitian and  resolved the issue.

On the very next day it was  informed that  the dietitian had given swab and she had tested positive.  We were stunned to hear as had a meeting  with her the day before.

So I was in dilemma, not able to decide what to do. My seniors advised   me to go for the COVID test.

I underwent COVID test on the very next day and as per protocol  I decided to confine myself to home till the result was declared.

On the next day it was informed  that my test report had come and it was positive. He also informed that the government would be informed accordingly.

My ears became deaf. I could not believe, I informed my husband and other family members. My daughter broke down. I some how managed to console her stating that since I am working in a hospital, she should  prepare herself for such incidents. My husband stated that he was doubtful about the report as I had taken all the precautions  i.e putting mask, covering head with cap, frequent hand washing ..... but  we could not ignore the report  also.

I cannot express my feelings which I was undergoing. After an hour  a person called and informed that he was calling from health office and enquired whether I was aware about  the report. He took the home address and informed that Medical Team would be arriving the next day and they would take me to quarantine centre.

I wanted to run away but could not, cry but looking at the family members managed to be strong. I isolated myself in a single room and restricted myself.

I packed few sets of  clothes , masks, a packet  of biscuit, electric kettle, laptop etc and was ready for my departure.

The very next day I started receiving  numerous phone calls,  enquiring about family members, their age, ...they also intimated that within a hour they would be coming to pick me up.

After an hour an ambulance arrived........ I made myself tough, took my bags and said bye to my family members and came down stairs. I heard a lady from my flat stating that CORONA was at downstairs... that was me. Few members sated that since I was working in a hospital, they were mentally prepared for that news. The flat residents were peeping through their windows  as if I had done a CRIME.................,the care taker was instructed not to go to my  floor . My husband accompanied me to downstairs........ In  educated society it is still a STIGMA

I went inside the ambulace which was escorted by a car accompanied by two field officers. With in minute the ambulance was heading towards Panbazar..... I had left my world behind with a heavy heart,. With a ride for about 15 minutes we reached our destination.

On the way I enquired  about  the driver’s family members, his home town to ease myself. The ambulance driver was very kind enough, he consoled  me not to worry and I would recover soon. I was really thankful to the driver......... .

I took my  bags and entered  the hospital (MMCH)  two Security guards were deputed near the entrance, they instructed me to walk between the  red  lines demarcated . A nurse stopped me from distance and enquired my name, husbands name and my address and documented the same. She was fully equipped with PPE (Personal Protective Equipments).

She instructed me to move ahead and take one  of the buckets which were kept aside, as we see in news channels. A nurse came forward and instructed a male attendant to take me to 2^nd floor . I was not able to carry my bags but still managed to drag till 2^nd floor. As I entered inside the hall I saw numbers of patients accommodated in a hall, it was female ward and all COVID Patients were accommodated . A vacant bed was there,  a bedsheet was provided along with mosquitonet.... I was not able to understand what was happening. I couldnot control tears rolled down,  my glasses, masks could not hide them. One of the patient broke my silence she consoled me and asked  not to Cry....., but I could not control myself.....

I could not understand ......how to accommodate myself in a single bed... as I opened the bucket (provided by the hospital) I found few essential items such as toothpaste, tooth brush, hair oil, comb, undergarments, bathing soap, cloth washing soap, bath towel, mirror, Mug and the bucket. All essential items........ I somehow managed to take bath . Phone  kept on ringing , my colleagues seniors were trying to  make me at ease........I could not speak to my family members....., patients from my nearby bed tried to console me................................. I thought why I had undergone the test....... but having child and elderly patient at home I guess  undergoing test was the right decision....................................

                                                                                                                                                                to be continued.......