The School of Tropical Medicine on Sunday shut its critical care unit (CCU) after a doctor and two others tested positive for Covid-19.

Patients from the unit have been shifted to the adjoining Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. The Covid-19 tests will continue at the hospital, though, a School of Tropical Medicine official said.

“We will open the CCU once necessary preventive steps have been taken. All efforts are being taken in consultation with the health department to ensure that testing facilities and the OPD function normally,” the official said.

The institution tests more than 200 samples daily.

This is the first time that a doctor of the School of Tropical Medicine has tested positive, a health department official said.

“He has been admitted to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, along with two others who have tested positive,” the official said.

The Calcutta Medical College and Hospital is now a dedicated Covid-19 hospital.

The infected doctor had complained of fever and breathlessness a few days ago. His swab sample was put to test immediately and he had been quarantined.

A list of his contacts has been drawn up, according to doctors. Two others, including a patient admitted to the institution and a healthcare worker, have tested positive. Their contact lists are being readied, another health department official said.

Earlier, five healthcare workers of the institution had tested positive for the coronavirus and 30 employees, including a doctor, had been quarantined.

Health department officials said plans were afloat to find additional hands from other institutions so that the shortage of staff at the School of Tropical Medicine could be managed and the functioning of most facilities, including

the fever clinic, did not take a hit.

The health department has sought a list of doctors and healthcare workers from the adjoining medical college.