Ludhiana: With a female from Ludhiana testing positive on her return recently from the United Kingdom, where a new strain of coronavirus has been detected, the health officials of Ludhiana department have swung into action to track and institutionally quarantine the high-risk passengers sitting in her proximity in the flight. But, most of them are unwilling to undergo institutional quarantine, an official revealed.
According to the health officials, in all 25 persons had returned from the UK by that flight, out of whom 12 are considered to be in high-risk category, as they were sitting close to the woman carrying the infection, and they need to be institutionally quarantined before their sampling is done.
However, as of now, the authorities have met with only limited success, as they are facing resistance from the returnees. So far, only one of them has enrolled for institutional quarantine.
Civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga said the high-risk contacts are to be first institutionally quarantined for seven days and if they test negative after that, they would be home quarantined.
Asked what the department would do to institutionally quarantine the UK returnees who have already left for their homes, the civil surgeon said, “We will bring them back.”
A health department officer, who is directly involved with the process, said of the 25 returnees, 12 low-risk persons are under home quarantine.
“Even though the remaining 12 tested negative at the airport and have left for their homes, they need to undergo seven-day institutional quarantine. After that, their samples will be taken again, as the incubation period of the virus is 14 days. But, the main problem is their reluctance to undergo institutional quarantine…they are posing resistance. Of the 12 returnees, only one person has enrolled at Khanna sub-divisional hospital, while the families of seven to eight passengers say they are out of the state. Similar excuses are being made by the relatives of the rest high-risk passengers as well,” said the officer.
The health department officer also appealed to all the high-risk persons to undergo institutional quarantine for their own good, and that of their families and the society in general.
Woman shifted to civil hospital
The 35-year-old female UK returnee, hailing from Payal area, had tested positive for the virus after her sample was taken at the Amritsar airport on landing there, health officials said. She was shifted to the Ludhiana civil hospital on Saturday.