Pune: Seven employees test COVID-19 positive in Bhor; Local administration shuts down company

Pune: District administration closed down a company in Varve village in Bhor taluka after seven employees were tested positive for COVID-19. Employees alleged that the company management was responsible for this spread of the coronavirus as it continued its operations and did not inform government health officials and did not take precautionary measures for three days since the first employee was tested positive. 

District officials have gathered information about these employees, persons who came in close contact with them and have started contact tracing in each of the talukas. Health Officer Dr Suyakant Karhale said, “Condition of all the seven employees is stable and good, and they are recovering fast.”

According to officials, on June 25, an employee of the company residing in Hadapsar suburb of Pune city was tested positive for Covid-19. Even after the management was informed about his positive report, the management did not take any precautionary measures, nor did it inform the local administration. When information about this positive employee was received on June 28, tehsildar of Bhor taluka visited the company premises on June 29 and ordered the company be closed. Also, health officials were instructed to conduct COVID-tests on all other employees. 

About 100 employees who had come in close contact of the positive-employees were advised home quarantine. Around 18 employees were showing symptoms for coronavirus, and their swab was collected for testing. Out of these, reports of 16 employees were received on Tuesday while two reports are still pending. A total of seven employees of this company were found positive for the virus. 

The coronavirus infection could have spread through the tools and equipment used commonly by the employees and also through the common toilet in the company, officials said. 

Out of the seven COVID-positive employees, four are from Salawade, Shivare, Khadki and Varve Khurd villages in Bhor taluka, one from Ketkavale village in Purandar taluka, one from Ambavane village in Velhe taluka and one from Ambegaon village in Haveli taluka.