Over 1,400, including doctors, isolated after man tests positive in Lucknow

TNN | Updated: Apr 14, 2020, 06:53 IST

The hotel where the doctors have been quarantined

LUCKNOW: District authorities went on an overdrive on Monday, isolating over 1,400 people and sealing a locality and a hospital in old city, after an elderly patient admitted to KGMU’s trauma centre tested positive for novel coronavirus infection.
The patient, who is suffering from acute respiratory syndrome, is critical and his source of infection is not known yet.
Naya Gaon in Nazirabad area, where the patient resides, was sealed till further orders soon after the test report was out. Around 1,000 people live in the area.
At least 65 health personnel at KGMU’s trauma centre, including 13 junior doctors, were quarantined for two weeks. Besides, a private hospital in Hussainganj and a private diagnostic centre at Chowk, which the patient had visited in last 10 days, were asked to shut and their 50-odd employees, including doctors, were asked to isolate themselves at home for 14 days.
Chief medical superintendent, KGMU, Prof SN Shankhwar said the 64-year-old patient was admitted to the emergency ward on Saturday evening.
“After examination, a junior doctor referred him to medicine unit where another junior doctor realised that the patient had Covid-19 symptoms and immediately shifted him to isolation unit. His swab sample report came out to be positive on Monday,” he said.
Six family members of the patient have been quarantined at a private hospital near Hussainganj and they are being tested.
Alarmed over the development, KGMU authorities hurriedly made an announcement on public address system at trauma centre and asked all personnel who were on duty on Saturday evening to assemble outside the premises.
Simultaneously, each one of them were called on phone and asked to collect outside isolation unit. Swab samples of all of them were taken for testing.
Junior doctors were quarantined at a hotel on Rana Pratap Marg, while others were lodged at student hotels and guest houses. The junior doctors included three who examined the patient, and 10 others with whom these three came in contact in their hostels since Saturday evening. Other quarantined staff included 40 nurses and paramedics, 10 sanitation workers and two security guards.
About 300 family members of these health personnel have also been asked to remain in home isolation till further orders.
Chief medical officer Dr Narendra Agarwal said, “Till the time we get the reports of health personnel, their families will remain in home isolation. Those found positive will be quarantined and their families will be tested.”
He said the health department had launched a survey to find people who came in contact with the patient in last 10 days.
Administrative and police officials swung into action on Monday morning and sealed Naya Gaon area in accordance with the containment policy.
Assistant commissioner of police, Kaiserbagh, IP Singh said, “Complete restriction on movement of people has been imposed with immediate effect. All essential items will be supplied by the administration.”
After Phoolbagh, Naya Gaon is second area in Kaiserbagh to be sealed to check Covid-19 spread. So far, 13 areas/localities have been sealed in the city.