91-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TESTS NEGATIVE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF TESTING POSITIVE

CHANDIGARH : The 91-year-old woman, who was found Covid-19 positive at a Mohali hospital on Thursday, tested negative within 24 hours of the first result. The elderly was found infected after she was admitted for a medical procedure at Max Hospital in Mohali.

She was tested at one of the labs of the hospital. However, the second sample sent to PGIMER, Chandigarh, returned negative results. Officials said the samples were examined carefully as the case was reported positive by a private hospital.

UT health secretary Arun Kumar Gupta said the woman will not be tested again, but had been advised strict home isolation. “PGIMER report should be treated as final, and at most, she may be advised to isolate herself at her house and watch out for symptoms. Asymptomatic positive patients are advised to follow the same protocol,” he said

Max Hospital said they will issue a detailed statement on the issue on Saturday.

Three family members and two community contacts of the elderly woman, who were quarantined at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, were also found negative on Friday.