New Delhi, Apr 7 (IANS): One doctor and 16 nursing staff from the Delhi State Cancer Institute, who were tested positive for the coronavirus were, asymptomatic -- producing or showing no symptoms of the virus, the hospital said on Tuesday.

So far, 18 staff have been tested positive for coronavirus in the institute.

"We have shut our OPD earlier. The offices were also sanitised. After the first doctor tested positive, we tested our nursing staff, and most of them were asymptomatic," B.L. Sherwal, DSCI's Medical Superintendent, told IANS.

He said the hospital is not shut as there are patients.

"We will be closing it for a day for sanitisation after we shift the patients admitted in the hospital," he said.

Sherwal said as a preventive measure, the stable patients are being discharged, while those who have serious health issues will be shifted to the Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.

"The patients admitted to the hospital have been tested for coronavirus. We are waiting for reports. If they are negative, we will shift them to the Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital or will discharge them depending on the situation. We cannot send a patient outside if he/she tests positive," he said.

The first case of coronavirus in a doactor was reported in the hospital last week.

The doctor was not in contact with the patients and got the infection from a family member. The staff were tested after coming in contact with the doctor.

However, according to sources, the staff was complaining about the lack of personal protection equipment for them.

Delhi has reported more than 500 corona positive cases so far and more arrangements are being made by the government to accommodate the increasing numbers.