Reverse migration behind fresh spread in Bathinda

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 12

The Covid-19 cases in the district are on the rise, with 781 cases having been reported in the past 13 days, taking the total number of cases to 933. More than 300 migrant labourers, who returned to work at Guru Gobind Singh refinery in the district’s Rama Mandi have tested positive. Following this, the refinery authorities directed the workers to defer their plan of coming back until the situation returns to normal.

A spokesperson for the refinery said the patients were not the employees of refinery, but were employed by contractors. Besides, none of the patients had entered the refinery’s premises.

Meanwhile, six workers of a dhaba located on the Goniana road, and one staffer of a hotel have tested positive for Covid-19. The development has triggered panic among residents. Reportedly, the employees who have tested positive are migrant workers who had returned from their native places recently. Subsequently, the area was declared a micro-containment zone.

A large number of cases have also been reported from the cantonment area, police stations, AIIMS and the special jail in the district.

The biggest spike in the district was reported on August 6, when 112 patients were tested positive. Later, on Augsut 8, 104 persons were found infected.

As now the large numbers of patients are admitted to isolation centers in the district. The administration is facing problems in keeping them calm and making arrangements for them.

Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said: “We are taking 1,000 samples every day as against 400 previously. Door-to-door testing with antigen kits in the micro containment zones has been started.”