Chandigarh Administration changes testing protocol in Bapu Dham

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 22

The incessant surge in Covid-19 positive cases in Bapu Dham Colony has prompted the UT Administration to change its testing protocol in this containment zone.

Earlier, primary contacts of only that household were tested for Covid-19 and quarantined from where a positive was reported.

According to revised strategy, all persons will be isolated and tested for Covid-19 irrespective of a positive case in the entire building.

UT Health Secretary Arun Gupta, said, “In Bapu Dham around six – seven persons live in a household. Earlier, we were testing only immediate members of a household and used to quarantine those living on other floors of the building from where the positive case was reported. We tested only those who developed symptoms over a period of time.”

Gupta said, “Now, we will isolate and test all persons living in the same building whether vertically or laterally. However, it is a challenge to test everybody in the containment zone.”

On Thursday, it was decided to set up a sampling centre in the Bapu Dham Colony and as many as 58 persons were tested today.

No takers for nourishment centres

There have been no takers from the Bapu Dham Colony for nourishment centres set up at two schools for elderly and comorbid persons. Two more quarantine facilities have been set up, including girls hostel No. 8 at Panjab University and Government Model School, Raipur Kalan.