Coronavirus scare in Punjab: Health authorities seek police help to trace ‘missing’ travellers from coronavirus affected nations

GURDASPUR: Gurdaspur administration has sought police help in tracking 17 persons with recent history of travelling to coronavirus-hit countries.
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Talking to TOI on Friday, Gurdaspur civil surgeon Dr Krishan Chand said out of 293 persons who had travelled to Covid-19 hit countries from the district, they had been able to trace 276 persons but whereabouts of 17 were not known.He said they were now taking help of police and district administration.
Dr Chand pointed out that the incubation period (roughly explained as time taken for a person from catching the viral infection to starting to show symptoms) of Covid-19 was about 14 days, so according to advisory they had to keep the persons under observation for 14 to 21 days.
“Our staff keeps in touch with them over telephone or visiting them personally. If anyone of them is found to have symptoms of coronavirus they are are kept in an isolation ward for medical treatment,” he said.
The district health chief said they had sent nasal and oral swab samples of six suspected patients, out of which five were tested negative, while test report of one person was still awaited.
According to sources in health department, many persons across the state were not traceable and police help was being sought to locate them. “Many persons had either given wrong address or were living on rent and have moved to new places and that is creating problem,” said sources.
Amritsar police commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gills said they were helping the health authorities as and when asked.
In Amritsar, three suspected patients whose report was negative were discharged from hospital. One confirmed coronavirus patient is under treatment and two others, whose reports were negative, are under observation.
Meanwhile, Gurdaspur and Pathankot administration on Friday conducted a mock drill to check preparedness of dealing with coronavirus situation.
Pathankot civil surgeon Vinod Sareen said mock drills were held in rural as well as urban areas. He said there was no suspected Covid-19 patient in the district.