A Storm in the COVID cup!!!
I have been writing about patients. Today I would like to share something related to Doctors in COVID times.
That afternoon it was very hot as I drove to the hospital for my afternoon isolation ward duty. As usual, I donned protective gear and was soon engrossed in the work related to the various patients of the COVID ward. By afternoon 4 pm the heat was stifling. We could all feel a storm gathering. Suddenly there was a loud sound of thunder, the storm broke over us. For about one and a half hours the rains crashed outside as is typical of summer storms in Maharashtra. For a moment the lights flickered but luckily the electric supply continued uninterrupted. I mentally thanked God and my superb Hospital Management for this.
Very soon it was 8.30pm and time for me to go for my bath before leaving for home. Here, for those who may not know this, I would like to share with you that we Doctors were required to have a head bath before leaving the COVID ward so that we would not carry any COVID virus into the outside world. Accordingly, I entered the bathroom and started the shower. To my utter shock, it was ice cold!!! Hastily shutting it off, I looked around thinking maybe I had rotated the knob in the wrong direction. I tried it in different ways, but the temperature of the water remained ice cold. What do I do now???
Another Doctor could be heard in the next cubicle. I called out to find out if this was a problem only with my cubicle. That's when I found out that it seems the storm had broken some connection and it would be repaired by the next day. Hmmm!! What about today?? Head bath with ice cold water??
No...No..!!
But the option was even scarier!! My children and husband were home. Dare I go home without washing off all that I may have picked up in the COVID ward???
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No....definitely not!!
So I took a deep breath, started the shower, and resolutely stood under it.
Finally, sitting in my car, dreaming of the hot cup of tea waiting at home I drove away. Today was cold but the day would end with warmth, of that I was sure.
(Note: Amazingly, by next day morning the problem had been resolved!! It seems someone had worked through the night to solve the issue!!)