Patiala reports five new cases

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/Patiala, April 21

Secret hookah parties are being blamed for the outbreak of Covid-19 in Rajpura. Sources said such parties continued in the town and other parts of Patiala district even after the enforcement of curfew.

They claimed that the gatherings, attended by businessmen, satta operators, local leaders and even medical professionals, were the primary reason in majority of the 15 cases cropping up from Rajpura block in the past fortnight. The Health Department today started 100 per cent screening in the block, which will be completed within the next three days.

Sources claimed that such gatherings were being held regularly at a house. But since some prominent persons were involved, no one was ready to divulge details. “A majority of them are from the same community and they would get together for the whole day at the house. Many of them would move out on the pretext of holding langar for the needy,” said a source.

Senior officials confirmed that during the hookah party many suspected and at least two positive cases shared hookah with over 50 people in a span of two weeks.

The officials confirmed that five persons, including a doctor tested positive for coronavirus in Rajpura block on Monday night.

Of the five, one is the daughter-in-law of the Rajpura woman, who had tested positive earlier, while three are friends of another positive patient, health officials said, adding that the doctor who had given preliminary treatment to the Rajpura woman before she was shifted to Government Rajindra Hospital.

Civil Surgeon Harish Malhotra said all five positive cases were from the Anaj Mandi area of the town.

Senior officers, including Patiala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit, have assured to look into the matter. “People holding private parties, despite restrictions and reminders increase the risk of spreading the infection. We will seek legal action against such violators,” he stated, adding that over 70 tests were done in Rajpura today.

According to the state media bulletin, with six fresh cases reported in the past 24 hours, the total count in the state reached 251. Five cases were reported from Patiala and one from SAS Nagar. As per the Health Department, so far samples of 7,335 suspected cases were sent for testing. Of these, 6,769 were found negative and the reports of 335 were awaited.

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