Cancer patient tests positive, taking Panchkula count to 26

Resident of Sector 2 had gone to Mumbai for surgery, later to Delhi for further treatment for cancer, untraceable

A 55-year-old man from Sector 2, Panchkula, tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), taking the district’s case count to 26 on Thursday. However, the patient has gone missing from his house, and the health department is questioning the family about his whereabouts.

The patient had travelled to Delhi for cancer treatment two days ago where his sample was taken. (Representative Image/HT)

District Covid-19 nodal officer Dr Rajiv Narwal said the patient had got treated for oral cancer on May 7 at a private hospital in Mumbai, and then visited the Delhi branch of the hospital on May 16 for further treatment including chemotherapy. “Before being admitted to the Delhi hospital, he was tested for Covid-19 and his reports came positive on May 17, according to the family. We have not received any communique from the Delhi hospital,” said Dr Narwal, adding that the family was not quarantined as the patient had not visited his house since his travel in the past 25 days.

Sources said the patient is son of a retired IAS officer and might be staying at some relative’s house in Ghaziabad or Noida. Sources also said that a high drama was witnessed when health department and police officials visited the house for inspection and there were arguments between them and the family.

Of the 26 patients in the district so far, 23 have been cured and discharged, while one had died after testing negative in the second sample. Besides the recent active case, one active case is being treated at the civil hospital.