Travellers’ tally: More cases, but more recoveries too

Nagpur: When migrant labourers, students, and residents coming back from Mumbai, Pune and other Covid-19 hotspots began testing positive in the second week of May, many districts in Vidarbha reported a spike in cases. Now, as these persons are getting discharged, the benefits of early detection and quarantine are becoming apparent.
As most of the returnees were natives of remote villages in Vidarbha, and tested positive in rural areas, a possibility of rural and community spread was high. On the other hand, most returnees were young and of working age. So, even if they tested positive, their chances of getting cured were higher.
The second possibility is proving true at least for Vidarbha. In last three days, 104 out of 195 travellers in six districts of Vidarbha have recovered and been discharged.
On May 19, TOI had reported the brighter side of the surge in Covid-19 cases, where experts had stated that these young students or labourers testing positive at early stage with lower viral load can get over the virus very effectively. On June 2, an analysis of the figures of these six districts shows only travellers have tested Covid-19 positive here.
For example, Gondia was free of Covid-19 for 38 days till May 18, when two Mumbai returnees tested positive here. In next 10 days, Gondia’s cases surpassed half-a-century. Now, there are 69 confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in Gondia. Almost all active patients are returnees. But, by June 2, total 48 out of these 67 have recovered and been discharged.
“Patients in Gondia were either asymptomatic or having very mild symptoms. As they came from Mumbai, we kept them in institutional quarantine and tested for Covid-19. Those testing positive were kept in isolation ward,” said District Health Officer Dr Shyam Nimgade.
Gondia released first two patients from the returnees on May 28, followed by 25 (May 29), four (May 30), six (May 31 and June 1), and four (June 2). Out of 21 active patients, 19 are on the way to recovery in next three days.
Similar is the picture in Bhandara, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Washim districts. Together, these six districts have recorded 195 cases of Covid-19 since May 17, and 104 of them have recovered so far.
Interestingly, patients who recovered said they received better medical facilities in their native districts. “Hospitals in Mumbai and Pune are full. Even serious patients are hardly getting beds there. In Buldhana, I received very good treatment at a Covid hospital. Quality, space, attentive doctors – everything we cannot even imagine in cities,” said a girl who was discharged from Buldhana some days ago.
However, the major responsibility of limiting the rural spread is on the returnees. Washim collector Hrushikesh Modak, on Tuesday, issued an appeal to all returnees to get themselves tested. “They should get checked, observe 14-day home quarantine, and should visit government hospitals in case they develop any symptoms. They should avoid meeting people, entertaining visitors, and strictly keep themselves away from elderly people,” he said.
“It has been observed that travellers who test positive have good chances of recovery, so instead of shying away from tests, I would appeal to them to be responsible citizens and get tested if they have any symptoms,” he said.