Village refuses to undergo Covid test even after sarpanch’s death

NAWANSHAHR: Following a whole village’s refusal to get tested after death of a sarpanch on August 21, around 12 families have now avoided getting tested for Covid-19 in Ibrahimpur locality on Wednesday even as over 50 residents gave their samples.
An application signed by panchayat members of Jafarpur village, 3km from Nawanshahr on Rahon road, in which they have said that the entire village has decided that they will not give samples for Covid-19 went viral on social media on Wednesday. The application said that if anybody from the village would have any symptom then that fellow would get himself tested. “No resident of the village is ready to give sample for the test,” reads the application.
When asked about the reason, panchayat member Pardeep Singh, who also signed the application, said that their sarpanch was not feeling well and he went to a private hospital from where he was directed to the civil hospital.
“He was referred to Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, and after reaching there he called up his son that he was not getting any treatment. His son spoke to the hospital staff, which said he was being treated. He called up repeatedly and after sometime his son, who was accompanying him, was informed by the staff that he had died. Villagers believe that our sarpanch did not get proper treatment and he died,” said Pardeep.
“Villages are saying that if they will feel any symptoms, they will quarantine themselves. The common refrain is that people face much harassment once they reach government facilities. The panchayat signed this application as the entire village had decided about it,” he said, adding that, “After we gave in writing, the team left and none came to the village again.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a health department team reached Ibrahimpur locality after members of a family tested positive. While over 50 persons gave their samples around 12 families left after locking their homes.