Karnataka: 15 who went on pilgrimage to Jharkhand now test positive

BELAGAVI: Thirteen persons, who returned from a pilgrimage, tested positive on Tuesday. The Belagavi district administration had sent them home after 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
Over 30 people, who were stranded at Sammed Shikharji in Jharkhand after the Union government announced a lockdown, returned to Belagavi on May 6. District officials said all were sent to institutional quarantine at three centres in Athani and Kagwad taluks.
Sources said some samples were sent for testing and the administration misread reports and decided no one was positive. After completion of 14 days of quarantine, they were sent home. However, a few days later, samples of two persons quarantined at a centre in Shiraguppi returned positive. This triggered panic, forcing authorities to requarantine the pilgrims and collect more samples. Now, in all 15 persons have tested positive.
Sources also said the returnees had allegedly violated quarantine norms. They added that the delay in test reports caused confusion among health authorities. Health authorities thought all samples tested were negative, while in reality the results were not out.
Deputy commissioner SB Bommanahalli denied pilgrims were sent home. “We have learnt that some people entered the quarantine centre. We’re now initiating an investigation and if the allegations are true, action will be taken.”
District health officer Dr Shashikant Muniyal refuted reports of requarantine. He said: “We’re tracing contacts, including people who allegedly entered the centres.”