Officials track 38 who came in contact with infected Gzb man
Residents of Hapur, Meerut, Bulandshahr had met businessman before he tested positive on March 4; all distts on alert
GHAZIABAD: District health department officials on Friday said they had roped in several teams and alerted health officers in Hapur, Meerut and Bulandshahr, whose residents came in direct or indirect contact with a 57-year-old Ghaziabad businessman who tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The businessman is presently admitted at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi. He had returned to India from Tehran on February 23 and the state officials received information about his travel on March 1. The Ghaziabad health department sent his samples for testing on March 3. The man tested positive for the virus a day later.
Until Tuesday, travellers from only 12 countries were being screened for coronavirus, but after new cases erupted on Wednesday, the Union Ministry has decided that every passenger coming on an international flight will be screened.
“We have come to know about 38 persons with whom he came in direct and indirect contact. Eleven of them came in direct contact with him. Apart from Ghaziabad, he had contact with people from Bulandshahr, Hapur and Meerut. Teams of World Health Organisation along with our health department are trying to trace people who came in his contact since he arrived in India,” said Dr NK Gupta, chief medical officer (CMO).
“We have conveyed the information to the CMOS of three districts and have shared details of people who came in contact with the patient after he landed in India. The samples of his wife and son have been sent for testing. Besides this, we have sent samples of two staff who took the man in an advanced life-support (ALS) ambulance to Delhi. His other local contacts — in his office and otherwise — are also being closely monitored,” Dr Gupta added.
The officials said they have dedicated one 108 and one ALS ambulances to ferry patients suspected to have coronavirus to Delhi.
“We have sent 15 samples for testing and two of them include minors who travelled with their parents to Kuwait and returned to Indian 2 to 3 days ago. Both had developed symptoms of fever, cough and cold and went for a checkup to a private doctor. Their information was referred to us and samples were taken. We are also awaiting test results for a 20-year-old man who came in contact with a Delhi based patient who was found positive after travelling back to India from Italy,” said GK Mishra, district malaria officer.
So far, the Ghaziabad health department officials said that 200 people have been screened, 40 of who are still under surveillance. Of the 15 samples sent so far, reports of seven were found negative for the virus, while one man has tested positive.
THE GHAZIABAD HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAID THAT 200 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SCREENED, 40 OF WHO ARE STILL UNDER SURVEILLANCE. OF 15 SAMPLES SENT FOR TESTING, 7 HAVE COME OUT NEGATIVE