With two deaths in its COVID-19 ward on Wednesday sparking outrage, the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Thiruvananthapuram, has decided to step up the monitoring of patients admitted to the ward. Patients under observation would be shifted to a ward which would be under the watchful eyes of the hospital security staff, the hospital authorities said. Following the death of two male patients, aged 33 and 38 — both suspected suicides — Health Minister K.K. As a further measure, the services of mental health experts will be available round the clock to patients in the COVID ward. Hospital staff attached to the COVID ward would be provided psychological first-aid training by the Psychiatry Department of the hospital.

Source: The Hindu June 11, 2020 16:18 UTC