Community spread looms in Amritsar

AMRITSAR The fear of Covid-19 community transmission looms in Amritsar following two recent positive cases, who had no recent foreign travel history and their source of contracting the infection is unclear. The city has recorded 10 Covid-19 patients and two deaths to date.

Among the 10 positive cases, a 67-year-old man of Krishna Nagar was tested positive on April 3 and he has no recent foreign travel history and had not travelled outside Amritsar for long. The man’s wife too was tested positive on April 5.

Former municipal corporation official Jaswinder Singh, 65, of Chatiwind Gate died of

› The source of infection of two patients from the city couldn’t be traced yet and the health department is working on it. This is worrisome and a warning sign for the residents to stay indoors.

DR PRABHDEEP KAUR JOHAL, civil surgeon, Amritsar

coronavirus at a private hospital on Monday.

He was tested positive for the virus and he too had no recent foreign travel history, making him another community spread case. Singh’s wife has also been tested positive in her preliminary test.

“Both the cases are community transmission cases as the patients had no foreign travel history. The patients had not even met any known coronavirus patient. The patients’ source of infection has not been traced yet and health department is working on it. This is worrisome. This is a warning sign for residents to stay indoors,” said Amritsar civil surgeon, Dr Prabhdeep Kaur Johal.

Dr Rakesh Sharma of the GNDH said, “The community transmission is already on, although not declared officially.

Sometimes an early third stage can be halted then and there. Next 10 days are very crucial to control the spread.”

Fearing community transmission, some residents have been urging government to step up surveillance and enforce the lockdown.

“The district administration has not been able to trace the source of infection in two cases nor has it given any official statement on the community transmission. We have definitely entered third stage,” tweeted a city resident.

“Kindly look into the matter urgently. Despite community spread, people are still not serious about the lockdown in Amritsar,” tweeted another resident on Twitter.