Coronavirus: 40 Coimbatore cops being tested after man who provided food to them tests positive for Covid-19

A Subburaj | TNN | Apr 14, 2020, 11:00 IST

Samples are taken from a man in Chennai on Monday. Photo by A Prathap

COIMBATORE: A 61-year-old man, who had provided food to some personnel from Thudiyalur police station in Coimbatore for five days, tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, prompting the health department to test 40 cops using PCR.
The man, hailing from Kotari Nagar in Coimbatore, went to New Delhi for some personal work. He returned to Coimbatore by flight on March 23. He was screened twice by the health department. Samples were taken from him twice, which tested negative.
He provided food to cops who were on duty on the Mettuplayam Road. The man visited Thudiyalur police station and district collectorate too.
Later, he developed Covid-19 symptoms. Samples were taken from him for the third time, which returned positive for coronavirus infection. He was admitted to ESI Hospital.
After he tested positive, health department officials approached the cops. Police sources said inspector Balamurali Sundaram and 39 cops attached to the Thudiyalur police station had been asked to visit a primary health centre in the area for Covid-19 test on Tuesday. Tests began when this story was filed.
The health department also identified the family members and friends of the Covid-19 positive patient. Samples will be taken from them.