Clerical errors hamper testing, contact tracing; probe ordered

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 3

A few days ago two Covid-19 patients, who were discharged from a local isolation unit, were called back after they were still found positive. On Friday, a 45-year-old woman was brought to the civil hospital. It was later found to be a case of mistaken identity. In yet another case, at least two persons were tracked as positive cases, but they turned out to be someone else.

In view of such discrepancies, Dr Gurinder Chawla, Civil Surgeon, has marked an inquiry.

To date, 4,067 samples have been taken in the district, of which 74 have been listed as inappropriate. Labs (sending Covid-19 reports of Jalandhar patients) have been changed at least four times. Eventually, three days ago, a private lab has been approved for sampling after the signing of an MoU.

In a letter to the Medical Superintendent, Dr Chawla wrote, “While taking samples, information about persons and their contact history is not being sent properly to this office. Names of some patients whose reports are being received by us are not on the lists. This is a serious discrepancy, which has taken place several times.”

Dr Chawla said, “We have addresses and complete record of people who have tested positive in the district. Meanwhile, I have marked an inquiry into the clerical errors.”

Dr TP Singh, Nodal Officer, said, “There was confusion about some patients a few days ago. Samples from Amritsar were coming without addresses. All inappropriate Jalandhar samples are also being re-sampled. We are maintaining exact count of the people who have tested positive in the district.”