Nagpur: One more city resident who returned from United Kingdom (UK) tested positive for Covid-19 and is admitted as suspected patient of new coronavirus strain at special ward of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The patient, 42-year-old woman from Shreyas Nagar in Wardhaman Nagar, was admitted two days after testing positive.
Additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Nipane and medical officer Dr Sanjay Chilkar from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) told TOI, “Latest patient reached Mumbai from UK on December 5. She arrived in city on December 16. Her name was in the list sent by Bureau of Immigration. Our team asked her to get tested which was done on December 27. Report came positive on December 28.”
NMC sources told TOI, “Patient was not at home when team from NMC Lakadganj Zone reached for taking her to GMCH on December 28 and 29. We then contacted her on mobile and also asked her relatives following which she returned home and got admitted at GMCH on Wednesday.”
The number of suspected patients of new coronavirus strain which has now increased to six in the city. All are admitted in GMCH’s special ward.
Swab samples of first five were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for genome sequencing. Swab samples of latest patient will be sent on Thursday.
NMC had received list of 137 persons who returned from Europe, Middle East and South Africa between November 25 and December 23.
Dr Chilkar said, “Detailed inquiry revealed six are from rural parts of the district and so we have informed the collector’s office. 131 are residents of the city. RT-PCR tests of 96 flyers has been done of whom six have tested positive. Reports of 12 persons are likely to come on Thursday. Remaining 23 could not be contacted. Our teams are tracing them.”
Two flyers arrived from Middle East on Wednesday increasing the number of new air passengers to 17. Nipane and his team ensured their quarantine. Of earlier 15, one has tested negative and completed one week. He is likely to be discharged soon. Tests of four more were conducted on Wednesday and results will come on Thursday. Tests of remaining flyers will be conducted after five to seven days of arrival.