State babus in a tizzy as 300 direct contacts quarantined

VIRUS SCARE 40 members attended association meeting in a Chandigarh hotel on July 3 to protest the arrest of one of their colleagues by vigilance bureau in a graft case

CHANDIGARH : A sense of nervousness was palpable in Punjab’s bureaucratic circles after 14 Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers were confirmed positive for the coronavirus over the last couple of days.

The state health department has asked at least 300 of their direct contacts, including family members and government employees, to put themselves in home quarantine.

Nearly 40 PCS officers attended a meeting of their association in a Chandigarh hotel on July 3 to protest against the arrest of a fellow official, Tarsem Singh, posted as regional transport authority (RTA) in Faridkot, by the state vigilance bureau on corruption charges.

The reports of five PCS officers are still awaited, said a senior health department official.

All the 40 officials kept performing their duties till Tuesday when Ludhiana additional depmagistrate uty commissioner (ADC development) Amarjit Bains, who was found infected with the virus.

After the July 3 meeting, the officials also met chief secretary Vini Mahajan in the civil secretariat.

A PCS officer posted as a deputy secretary in the chief minister’s office (CMO) also met them. Besides, they are learnt to have met their acquaintances in the state secretariat thereafter.

By Wednesday, 11 officials were confirmed positive.

PANIC AMONG PAYAL FUNCTION ATTENDEES

The news of Payal sub-divisional (SDM) Mankamal Singh Chahal getting infected on Thursday sent shockwaves among some senior politicians as he was the main organiser of a state-level function July 5 in which health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh Sidhu was the chief guest.

Among those present in the function were Payal MLA Lakhvir Singh Lakha, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh, Samrala MLA Amrik Singh Dhillon, Khanna MLA Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Bassi Pathana MLA Gurpreet Singh GP, former minister Malkit Singh Dakha and Khanna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harpreet Singh.

Most of these individuals have been meeting the public since, it is learmt.

“I haven’t got any information from the administration yet but I will definitely take precautions as per the protocol,” Khanna MLA Gurkirat Kotli said. Another MLA said he has decided not to meet the public and will get his Covid-19 test done.

Health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said all social-distancing norms were followed during the July 5 function. “I haven’t received any official communication so far but I am ready to get tested for the coronavirus, if needed,” he said.

“Soon after the chief secretary got information, she quarantined herself and got tested for the virus but was found negative on Wednesday evening. She is back to work,” a government official said.

CHIEF SECRETARY VINI MAHAJAN UNDERGOES TEST AS PCS OFFICIALS ALSO CALLED ON HER AFTER THEIR MEETING; BACK TO WORK AFTER REPORT CAME NEGATIVE

FAMILY MEMBERS, STAFF TO BE TESTED

A senior health department official said all family members and employees posted in the offices of the PCS officers will be tested for the coronavirus.

“We are even tracing members of the general public who met these officials for their routine work,” he added.

Also, working in the offices of the officials found positive has been suspended till further orders.

STEEPEST SINGLE-DAY SPIKE IN PATIALA

In its steepest single-day spike, Patiala district reported 45 new Covid-19 cases . Of the total cases, 35 are from Patiala city, three from Samana, six from villages across the district and one from Rajpura.

The district recorded 230% jump in Covid cases in the past one month. On June 9, the district recorded 147 cases, while on July 9, the district tally rose to 484. After sanitary inspector of Patiala municipal corporation tested positive, the authorities have sealed corporation office till Monday.

The authorities have decided to stop public entry into the corporation office from Monday onwards and set up a singlewindow system for public.

Shopkeepers, including the Patiala Cloth Merchants’ Association and Behra Road Association have volunteered to keep their shops shut for three days.

FEAR OF QUARANTINE MAKES VISITORS HIDE TRAVEL HISTORY

The civil surgeon said: “Interstate travellers coming from Delhi and Haryana are turning out to be the main reason behind spike in Patiala district. People coming from these states are not informing health authorities about their visit.

The fear of being quarantined makes visitors hide their travel details. Some turn violent and abuse health workers when they are identified.”

In neighbouring Sangrur district, 14 people tested positive on Thursday, while a 59-year-old resident of Ahmedgarh town succumbed to Covid-19 at a private hospital in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

Health department officials said the patient was suffering from fever, cough and breathlessness.

With his death, the toll of Covid-19 patients from Sangrur district has reached 17.

Dirba SDM Manjeet Singh Cheema also tested positive for Covid-19. The health department officials said that Cheema attended PCS executive meeting on Friday.

JALANDHAR SSP, SDM AMONG 32 TEST POSITIVE

Jalandhar SSP Navjot Singh Mahal and Shahkot, besides 30 more people tested positive for Covid-19. Besides, holding meeting with senior police officers, the SSP has attended a function in which commissioner of police, MLAS and some other senior officers took part.

Seven persons tested positive in Bathinda, four in Kapurthala and three in Moga.

Besides, a doctor posted at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, 11, including 8 BSF men in Ferozepur also tested positive for the virus.