Punjab Police official tests positive

Apr 14, 2020, 04:00 IST

Ludhiana: A 52-year-old Punjab Police official has tested positive for novel coronavirus.
The cop, who resides in government accommodation near Sardar Police Station, had visited the outpatient department of Satguru Partap Singh (SPS) Hospital at 2pm on April 7 with complaints of fever from the past one week and breathlessness from the past three days. He was admitted to its Covid-19 ICU on the same day.
Dr Gautam Aggarwal, senior consultant in medicine at SPS Hospital, said, “His X-ray taken on April 7 showed worsening of lungs. In the evening, we performed his CT scan that revealed viral pneumonia. His throat swab was sent to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. The next day, we received his report that stated he had tested negative. On April 10, his sample was again taken and sent to Rajindra Hospital. The report, which came on April 12 night, stated he was Covid-19 positive.”
About his condition, Dr Aggarwal said, “He is in a critical condition. The treatment will take time to show results. His health deteriorated over the past three days. He was put on ventilator on April 11.”
ICU head Dr Gurpreet Singh said the cop’s condition was slightly better than what it was two days ago.
SPS Hospital medical superintendent Dr Rajeev Kundra said, “The doctors who diagnosed him at OPD took all the precautions. A doctor interacted with him for a minute and the cop was immediately shifted to Covid-19 wing. Even as his report was not received, he was a Covid-19 suspected case.”
Deputy commissioner Pradeep Agrawal said, “The cop has no travel history.”
He lives with his wife and a son, who have been home quarantined.
At SPS Hospital, another patient was admitted to Covid-19 ICU on Sunday. His report is awaited.