Hike in cases post-changes in SOPs, 14+ve in three days

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 29

Earlier, hopes went up in the district after a bulk discharge of 79 patients. At one time, there was only 15 active Covid patients.

However, the increase in cases is again giving rise to speculations whether the district might be witnessing a spike after changes in Standard operating procedures (SOPs).

In the past three days, 14 persons have tested positive — six on Wednesday and eight today. In the past several days, six personnel associated with the Health Department alone, a majority from the Civil Hospital itself, have tested positive.

While four workers (two nurses, two ward staff) had tested positive a few days ago, day before yesterday the vice-chairman of the Punjab Health System Corporation tested positive. Those testing positive today include a health worker and a husband of a staff of the Civil Hospital who had previously tested positive.

While the health staff previously tested positive include those from the Civil Hospital’s flu corner and emergency ward, today a field health worker from Bhargo Camp has tested positive.

While active patients have risen to 30 in a matter of days, the IMA centre at Shahkot also witnessed a steady rise with 11 being admitted there today.

Meanwhile, testing, which was also done between 50 to 100 samples per day, has also witnessed a resultant increase, with 194 samples taken today itself.

Responding to queries whether there was a spike in the district, Nodal officer Dr TP Singh said: “The sampling has gotten better and all those testing positive are only contact-based cases. Testing is increased as we are carrying out tests of entire pool of a patient’s contacts. The staff testing positive also include those who have tested positive due to contacts of patients, possibly. Given the scenario, additional cases are all due to contact tracing. These are not new cases.”