4 Asha workers test positive in Moga

MOGA : As many as 22 people, including four Accredited Social Health Activist (Asha) workers, tested positive for coronavirus disease in Moga district on Saturday.

Among other fresh cases, 17 are Nanded-returnees and a man who returned from Dubai two months ago, civil surgeon Dr Andesh Kang said.

With this, the district’s tally of infected persons went up from five to 27, a jump of 440% in a single day.

“The Nanded-returnees had reached Moga three days ago and were quarantined. Their samples were sent to the Faridkot medical college for testing . After they tested positive, they were admitted in the isolation ward at Moga civil hospital,” Dr Kang said.

“We had collected random samples of Asha workers on door-to-door survey duty and sent them for testing as a precautionary measure. Four among them tested positive. We have initiated the process for their contact tracing. We suspect their family members could also be infected with the virus,” she said.

All the four Asha workers belong to Chuhar Chak village in Kot Ise Khan subdivision of the district.

They were working in Maddoke, Churhar Chak, Dhudike and Takhanwadh villages.

Of the 17 Nanded-returnees, seven belong to a family of Daulewal village, while the other 10 are from various villages across Bagahpura subdivision.

Meanwhile, other Asha workers in the area are worried for their safety. “We have not been provided proper safety gears, which has increased the threat,” said an Asha worker, seeking anonymity.