13 staffers in L-G’s office test Covid-positive

NEWDELHI: At least 13 employees in Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s office, Raj Niwas, have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), an official spokesperson said on Tuesday.

However, Baijal himself was not tested, because tracing teams found that the L-G had no contact with any of the infected staffers.

According to a Raj Niwas spokesperson, the first case came to light after a junior assistant officer from the extended branch of the office contracted the infection from his father.

After the case came to light, all 300 employees of the office in Civil Lines were tested, and 13 results returned positive.

“The first employee who tested positive was asymptomatic and was coming to work. As a result, others who came in contact with him contracted the infection. But, the situation is under control because none of them are in a serious condition,” said the spokesperson. All 13 have been put under home isolation as per the Centre’s guidelines, the spokesperson added.

“The L-G was not tested for Covid because the surveillance teams did not find any link to him during contact tracing. Him apart, every senior and junior employee has been tested,” the spokesperson said.

The official further stated that the L-G office is not being sealed and disinfection is being done.

In the evening, Baijal tweeted, “Deeply concerned about health of officials of my secretariat who tested positive for COVID-19 Health of all officials is stable & is being closely monitored. All of these officials were working tirelessly in these difficult times shoulder to shoulder with other frontline workers.”

“I applaud their commitment towards work & pray for their speedy recovery. All precautionary measures to contain spread of Covid-19 to continue strictly as per govt protocol,” he said in another tweet.

“All protocols laid down by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Delhi government are being followed here,” the L-G’s office said.