7 people associated with Nawanshahr coronavirus victim test positive

Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 21

Six family members of a 70-year-old man who died recently of coronavirus in a village in Nawanshahr tested positive on Saturday, officials said. One person was tested positive on Friday. 

The members include his three sons, daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter among other relatives. The deceased lived in a joint family of 17 members.

Coronavirus cases in Punjab rise to 13.

Earlier, a Dera priest, in Moranwali, was also tested positive for coronavirus. He is admitted to an isolation ward at Civil Hospital in Hoshiarpur.

The 70-year-old man and Moranwali resident were both priests in the same Dera at Pathlawa village.

The Dera priest’s wife, son, daughter-in-law and their two kids were showing symptoms of coronavirus infection. They are kept under quarantine.

Reports of the priest’s family are pending.

Epidemiologist, Dr. Shyam Veda said: “We are seeking histories and identifying new people everyday as per information provided and any new patients who come to the fore will be subsequently put up for sampling.”   

State Programme Officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, Dr. Gagandeep Singh Grover said: “The tally of the state has risen to 13 today. Seven new cases to test positive today include six of Baldev Singh’s family members and a contact. As per directions from Government of India, we are also going to increase testing substantially which has already begun today. So far 181 people in the state have already been tested with 13 of them testing positive. All those with a history of foreign travel and all high risk, symptomatic and those in contact of or high risk cases who met positive cases will also be tested in the coming days".

Earlier, the 70-year-old man, who recently came back from Germany died on Wednesday, sparking fears of yet another death from coronavirus.

Also read: 70-year-old man’s death in Nawanshahr village sparks coronavirus fears

He was admitted into Banga Civil Hospital after he complained of chest pain, Dr Prince Janagill, the medical officer who treated him, said.

He died at the hospital later in the day.

Janagill said that man’s family later revealed to the hospital that he had travelled to Germany and Italy recently, and had returned on March 6.

“It was while sharing his details that the family intimated us that he had come back from overseas. All the requisite measures as per COVID-19 protocol were followed thereafter. While the patient did not visibly display any coronavirus symptoms, he has a history of diabetes and hypertension as well. For now, it seems to be a case of heart attack. Whether he had coronavirus would be made clear once the report arrives," he said.

The man was diabetic and had hypertension—two factors that are believed to significantly affect mortality in coronavirus patients.

The doctor said neither the patient nor any of his family members showed any symptoms of the virus, but his travel history prompted the hospital to take immediate action.

The hospital had immediately followed coronavirus quarantine procedure and isolated six people—a doctor, a nurse and a ward attendant assisting them as well as three of the man’s family members. 

News of the man’s death and the subsequent quarantine has caused some panic and fear in his village.

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