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Patient tests positive for Covid-19 after recovery in HP

Seven cases have been reported in the last five days.

Updated on: Apr 19, 2020, 18:47:36 IST
Hindustan Times/Dharamshala | By , DHARAMSHALA
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A patient who had recovered Covid-19 has tested positive for the infection again, authorities said on Sunday.

After discharge, he was admitted to an institutional quarantine facility at Chheb near Kangra. (Representative image)
After discharge, he was admitted to an institutional quarantine facility at Chheb near Kangra. (Representative image)

The patient, a Tablighi Jamaat worker from Una district, had recovered after undergoing treatment at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda, and had been subsequently discharged, said additional chief secretary (health) RD Dhiman.

After discharge, he was admitted to an institutional quarantine facility at Chheb near Kangra.

Dhiman said the patient has tested positive for Immunoglobulin G antibodies (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies which shows IgG presence in his body and eventually the immunity against the virus.

“Eventually, it may be construed that it is not an active infection. The COVID positive report may be due to old virus strain,” he said, adding that the patient has been shifted to RPGMC for treatment.

This is the first case in the hill-state where a recovered patient has tested positive for Covid-19 again.

23 ACTIVE CASES

With this, the number of active cases in Himachal has increased to 23.

Dhiman said a total of 224 samples were tested on Saturday, of which 147 came out negative and two came out positive. The reports of 77 samples is still awaited.

A total of 2,207 people have been tested in the state. The tally of Covid cases has gone up to 39, including one fatality.

SHARP RISE IN CASES AFTER APRIL 2

Eleven people have recovered and four are being treated outside the state. There has been a sharp rise in Covid cases in Himachal after April 2. Seven cases have been reported in the last five days.

UNA WORST HIT DISTRICT

Una is the worst-hit district with 16 cases, followed by Solan where nine people have tested positive, Chamba has had six positive cases while Kangra has five. Two cases have been reported in Hamirpur and one in Sirmour.

Of the 39 cases, 25 are Tablighi Jamaat workers or their primary contacts.

  • Naresh K Thakur
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Naresh K Thakur

    Naresh K Thakur is a staff reporter in Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. Based at Dharamshala, he covers Tibetan affairs, local politics and environmental issues.