Officials at the United Bulawayo Hospitals( UBH) have dismissed as untrue reports that student nurses at the institution have been put on quarantine after reportedly coming into contact with patient suspected to have the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
While the country so far confirmed three cases of the deadly pandemic and one death, Bulawayo is yet to record a single case.
Reports doing the rounds were alleging that student nurses at UBH have been put on lockdown.
“All students have been called to put under quarantine at the nurses home , they are locking down more than hundred people and restricting their movement,” read the message.
“Student nurses at the hospital who are on wards have been pulled out of the wards and those who were in rural attachment have been called to come back. Others will be go to class instead of ward.”
The reports also claimed that the hospitals had stopped hospital visits for those with relatives admitted to the hospital.
Reached out for a comment, hospital authorities dismissed the claims saying that it was business as usual at the health institution.
“Thus, a terrible lie, there is no one on quarantine, some student nurses are usually on block,” said UBH Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Narcisious Dzvanga.
The hospital’s Public Relations Officer Nobuhle Thaka also refuted claims that all senior matrons at the hopsital had been sent home to self isolate.
“Student nurses are here in the hospital and they are continuing with their duties and lessons as usual. Even the matrons are here, I am also a matron even if I am a public relations Officer, we are working as usual but we only allow one matron at a time because of issues of social distancing,”
UBH Public Relations Officer Nobuhle Thaka
She added that the hospital had put measures to ensure everyone who comes to the hospital is screened.
“As an institution we are screening everyone who comes into the institution, visiting hour is now limited to one person,” said Thaka.
“We encourage the public at large to exercise social distancing and regularly wash their hands with water.”
