Reports awaited, Jalandhar hospital discharges 2 patients

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 29

Jubilant at having been discharged from the Civil Hospital, a youth went around his neighbourhood on a bike, is greeted by friends and showered with flowers by neighbours, only to be called back to the hospital with the news that he was still positive.

In a major faux pas, the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, on Tuesday evening discharged two patients with the declaration that they had recovered, even though they were still positive.

The only person to test negative for a second time – and get discharged on Tuesday – is a 19-year-old member of the Tablighi Jamaat.

The two who had been erroneously declared recovered are 25-year-old Lal Bazaar resident who is a contact of Jalandhar’s first deceased and the 40-year-old Raja Garden journalist after whom a slew of media house cases came to the fore in the district. Luckily, despite being discharged, the Raja Garden journalist did not go back home as he wanted to stay with his daughter at the hospital, who is also receiving treatment. Late on Tuesday night, the duo received intimation that they hadn’t recovered. While the 25-year-old came back to the hospital late night, the policemen who had gone to the 40-year-old’s home to bring him back in the wee hours were told he was still at the hospital.

Videos of the 25-year-old riding a bike in his neighbourhood and being greeted by friends with flowers are also being circulated on the social media. While the department is assessing the damage by his trip back home, sources said he was estimated to have met 22 people during that period.

Nodal Officer for Covid Dr TP Singh said, “The first negative test report of the two persons was erroneously believed to be the second due to which the situation arose. After the mistake was spotted, they were called back. They both are under treatment and will be discharged after their second report comes out negative.”