The second wave of COVID-19 has brought with it the fear of burn out among the medical community, not just physically and emotionally, but also psychologically. The fear of contracting the virus, taking it home, working in the hot and humid conditions with temperatures varying from 35 °C to 39 °C in PPE suits with no AC facility has returned, but they are also worried about the academic loss that they will suffer in their specialities.

Terrible conditions

“The jumbo make-shift hospitals and quarantine centres are a nightmare for both patients and the healthcare workers. The non-insulated designs of temporary roofs and partitions here are heat traps. The fans throw hot air on patients and healthcare workers alike. The healthcare workers in PPE suits are dehydrated, over-worked and face increasing deaths without an opportunity to unwind and de-stress with colleagues and psychologists. They also face high grade burn out,” said Dr Subhash Hira, professor of Global Health at the University of Washington-Seattle.