Another Cong leader objects to coronavirus ward in Alwar

Such isolation wards should be made away from the population. About 50,000 people live near the hospital and there is fear of spread of infection to them

ALWAR: After labour minister Tika Ram Jully, another Congress leader objected to the government’s decision to set up an isolation ward in Alwar’s ESIC Hospital for Indians evacuated from China over fears of coronavirus infection.

Meanwhile, two students, who were admitted to Alwar government hospital two days ago for check-up after their return from China, were discharged on Sunday.

Former Union minister Jitendra Singh issued a press release on Sunday to express his objection to the setting of isolation ward in ESIC Hospital.

“Such isolation wards should be made away from the population. About 50,000 people live near the hospital and there is fear of spread of infection to them,” he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Jully, who is former Alwar district Congress president, said Alwar was not a ‘charagah’ (grazing ground) where anyone could and stay. Another Congress leader, Yogesh Mishra, who is acting district Congress president, said the virus will spread in the district if Indians from China are put in ESIC Hospital.

The Centre has earmarked the hospital for setting up isolation wards for Indians being evacuated from China. The state health department has posted doctors and nursing staff in the hospital to look after them. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot was himself monitoring the developments, said an official.

Meanwhile, the BJP leaders are supporting the move. City BJP MLA Sanjay Sharma said the Congress leaders were committing a mistake by opposing Indians from China. “They are people like us. It is a pity that a leader on a Constitutional post [Jully as the minister] is opposing this move without knowing the facts. They will live here in quarantine for 14 days. They are Indians and may be from Rajasthan or Alwar,” he said.

In another development, there was no clarity on whether more than 300 Indians evacuated from China will arrive at the hospital or not. Officials said a

JITENDRA SINGH, Congress leader

change of plan could not be ruled out. Hospital coordinator Dr Ravi Sharma said he had no information about their arrival until this report was written. “If they come, we will take care of them,” he said.

Meanwhile, two students who were admitted to Alwar government hospital two days ago were discharged on Sunday. Alwar district collector Inderjeet Singh said they were given the option of staying in the isolation ward of ESIC Hospital or be in isolation in their houses; they chose the second option.

Principal Medical Officer Dr Ashok Mahaval said Pradeep Kumar Yadav, 22, of Gugalkhedi village under Kishangarhbas police station is in third year of MBBS and Kamal Singh is a student of MA. Both were more than 900 km away from the area where coronavirus outbreak has been reported.