Tracing contacts of infected persons a task

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 25

Fearing quarantine and social stigma, villagers are hiding the details of those who came in contact with three Covid positive patients of Virk village in Phillaur.

It is tedious for the staff to visit every house in the village and convince residents to divulge the details. One of the staff members involved in the process said it was difficult to make the villagers understand that it was important for them to tell if they had come in contact with any of the three family members in last few days.

Three members of a family, who were relatives of Baldev Singh from Pathlawa village in Nawanshahr, have tested positive for Covid.

On the first day, nine persons of the village, who were in direct contact with infected persons, were taken to the Civil Hospital for tests and the process of identifying more continued on the second day too.

A police official said it took him an hour or so to convince the villagers to give the details. “They are scared of getting isolated. But we have to make them understand that if they won’t tell us now, they will have to suffer sooner or later,” he said.

Nobody wants to be labelled as a suspect. As per information, most residents gave excuses like their main gate opened on the other side and chances of them coming in contact with the trio were less.

Sarpanch of the village Darshana Kumari is also making sure that she provides information regarding the villagers to health and police officials.

SP (Investigation) Sarbjit Singh said the villagers were being counselled.

DC Varinder Sharma said the police were identifying the people with whom these three persons had come in contact with.