In a matter of serious concern and one that could pose a grave public hazard, nearly 450 persons with travel history to Covid-19 affected countries are untraceable in just Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
Reports of affected patients escaping from hospitals have also come in from Nagpur and Ludhiana even as the authorities tracked down the affected Google employee’s wife, who had fled Bengaluru, to Agra. She, too, has since tested positive. “As many as 335 passengers with travel history to the coronavirus affected countries are untraceable,” said Health and Family Welfare Department of Punjab on Saturday.
In Andhra Pradesh too, the medical and health department officials are on the lookout for 102 persons, who came in contact with people with suspected Covid-19 infection and are traceless.
Of the 666 people in the State with a travel history to coronavirus-affected nations, 102 are ‘untraceable’, officials said, adding that of the 564 persons under observation, 233 have crossed the observation period of 28 days.
“A total of 6,011 passengers have been traced till March 13,” as per the statement issued by the State which also shared that around 90 people have been screened for the virus out of which one has been tested positive and 85 have been tested negative. The result of the remaining four people is still awaited. The State police, on Friday marked seven people, suspected of having the coronavirus, as missing after their whereabouts remained unknown.
As of now, 331 persons are still under observation, 12 persons are admitted to various hospitals in the state, and the remaining are under home observation, said KS Jawahar Reddy, special chief secretary (health), Andhra Pradesh.
As many as 55 samples were tested, of which 47 came out negative while one turned out to be positive. The test results of the remaining seven are pending.
“We are making extra efforts with support of other departments to trace them. The untraced cases are due to either not having phone numbers or residential address. Medical and health officials are also collecting data from airport authorities, ports and a few others departments to trace the 102 ‘missing’ persons,” Reddy added.
However, much to the relief of the authorities, in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, a couple from the United States who had symptoms linked to the deadly infections were traced to Kochi international airport and put under isolation after they had fled the Alappuzha Medical College.
The couple, US citizens who live in London, reached Kochi on March 9 and stayed at a resort in Varkala. Their flight was from London to Doha and then Kochi. The couple also used private taxis to commute.
However, when they developed symptoms of viral, they arrived at the hospital. The couple was told they would have to undergo a test for coronavirus but they managed to give the staff the slip.
Similarly, in Nagpur too, four persons admitted to a government-run hospital in Nagpur for suspected coronavirus infection, returned home without informing the authorities. They, however, returned later and tested negative for Coronavirus.
Special Secretary in the Union Health Ministry, Sanjeeva Kumar acknowledged that there have been cases of people not willing to be quarantined despite coming in contact with people testing positive. Kerala’s Pathanamthitta District Collector PB Nooh noted that “if even a single person under observation goes out, it is a threat. This is a public hazard.
“This is the time to behave in a very socially responsible manner,” the Collector had said after a man under observation for suspected coronavirus infection in the isolation ward of the district hospital fled, but was tracked and brought back within hours.
Taking exception to people making bid to evade treatment, the State government has warned that stringent action would be taken against those flouting the directions of the health department.
Health Minister K K Shailaja has warned that those coming from COVID19 affected nations should report to the authorities on arrival in the state, failing which a case would be registered against them under the Public Health Act.
The WHO which has declared the outbreak as pandemic, says that the new coronavirus - unlike its cousins severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) - spreads as easily as a common cold.