Officials did not share details of where the pizza delivery man works.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Days after a pizza delivery employee tested positive for COVID-19, residents of 72 houses across South Delhi, including in Hauz Khas and Malviya Nagar, have been put under quarantine.
District Magistrate (South Delhi) B M Mishra told The Indian Express that none of the people in the 72 houses have been tested so far. “All of them are under home quarantine, and will be tested if they develop symptoms,” Mishra said.
Officials did not share details of where the pizza delivery man works, or of the 72 houses under scanner.
His co-workers, 17 of them, have also been put under quarantine.
“He delivered pizzas in 72 houses in a five kilometer radius in south Delhi, including Malviya Nagar and Hauz Rani. It is possible that he contracted the disease while delivering to one of the houses in the area,” Mishra added.
A couple lanes in both these areas have been declared containment zones after more than three cases were reported from there.
The man is a resident of Savitri Nagar, a small neighbourhood adjacent to Sheik Sarai and Malviya Nagar. Health officials are still trying to ascertain how the man contracted the disease.
“He was symptomatic for almost a month. He said he had started feeling fatigued and had a persistent cough since March 20 and continued to work till April 12-13. Since he had no history of travel and contact, he had no reason to believe that he had COVID-19. He tested positive on April 14. We have quarantined the residents of all the 72 houses where he delivered food as well as his 17 co-workers,” Mishra added.
According to officials, while the man was not worried initially, he started insisted on being tested after his symptoms persisted.
“He went to Safdarjung, demanding that he be tested, and told them he delivered food and was at risk. He was then sent to RML Hospital for tests,” an official said.
Home delivery of food and groceries is permitted during the lockdown. In containment zones, the lockdown is stricter, and no one is allowed to step out of their homes. All essential items are delivered at the doorstep.
Booth-level teams are trying to ascertain if the man came in contact with anyone else apart from his family members and colleagues.
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