Punjab's First Covid-19 Fatality, A 70-Year-Old Gurudwara Priest Had Infected 23 More, Met 100s
Parts of Punjab has been hit by a major Coronavirus (Covid-19) scare after it emerged that a man who passed away on March 18 after he was tested positive for the infection has passed on the virus to at least a dozen people in his area.
The 70-year-old man, who was a Gurdwara priest, had returned to Delhi from Germany via Italy on March 6 after a two-week tour.?
After reaching Delhi, he and his two friends drove to the Pathlawa village in Nawanshahr, Punjab instead of going to his village, where he was asked to be in home isolation.
After attending the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib from March 8-10th he and his friends returned to their native village.
Even at his village, he defied the isolation norms and met with several people.
On March 18, he complained of severe chest pain and was brought to a hospital, where he collapsed and died later in the day.?
Since then 23 people including 14 from his family who are spread across three villages have been tested positive for Covid-19.
This includes his granddaughter and grandson each met scores of people.
But according to the Punjab Health Authorities, he had come into contact with some 128 people since his return.
Following his death, the three villages have been locked out and authorities are ensuring that no one moves around in the village. A house-to-house survey is also being conducted in the region to identify everyone with symptoms.
Punjab has so far recorded 33 Covid-19 cases out of which 23 were transmitted by the 70-year-old.
The incident in Punjab once again highlights why it is important for people to follow self-isolation to avoid putting themselves and others around them at risk of the infection.
Being in public places and gatherings also has the risk of community transmission where the infected person passes on the virus those coming in contact with him and then it is spread to more and more at which point it becomes out of control.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that as of now there is no community transmission in the country but has warned that the threat is real.
According to ICMR a community transmission of Covid-19 cases may take anywhere from a minimum of 20 days to a few months to be visible.
Given this situation, the?ICMR is also stepping up?the number of tests and has invited quotes for the supply of 10 lakh antibody kits (serological test) for?diagnosis of COVID-19.?
