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Coronavirus in Mohali: NRI patient flees hospital, booked
69-year-old UK woman visiting Mohali tested positive, isolated at Phase 6 civil hospital; samples of her sister, who travelled back with her, local male relative being tested
The 69-year-old Mohali woman, who is among the five tricity residents testing positive on Friday, has been booked for leaving the hospital against the doctor’s advice after giving samples.
The NRI woman is based in the UK for the past three decades, and was staying at a two-storey house owned by her family in Phase 3A, Mohali.
Mohali civil surgeon Dr Manjit Singh said the woman landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, from the UK on March 13. She developed fever and cold on March 18 (Wednesday) and went to a private hospital in Phase 6, Mohali.
Her samples were collected and sent to PGIMER, Chandigarh. The sample returned positive results on Friday morning.
Deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said the woman left the private hospital after giving samples on Thursday. After her test results came positive, the authorities reached her house, but her family and she refused to return to the private hospital.
As they created ruckus, police were called, but the family entered into a heated argument with cops too. Finally, the woman and her family members were taken to the civil hospital.
Therefore, she was booked under Sections 269, 270 (both pertaining to negligent act likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
She has now been kept in isolation at the civil hospital, where her sister and a male relative have also been quarantined, the civil surgeon said. Her sister had travelled back from the UK with her while the other relative is a local. The elderly woman’s condition is stated to be “stable and improving”.
21 CONTACTS UNDER HOME QUARANTINE
The district administration has traced 21 people who came in contact with the NRI woman. “They have been traced and are under home quarantine. Sample of close contacts have also been taken and sent to the PGIMER,” said Dayalan.
PANIC IN LOCALITY AS NEWS SPREADS
Minutes after an NRI woman, who tested positive for coronavirus, and her family members were taken away in an ambulance amid a high drama, panicked neighbours locked themselves in their houses in Phase 3A, Mohali.
Residents claimed police returned two hours later to barricade the road outside the two-storey house. Also, just two health officials were tasked with going door-to-door to ask people to wear masks, use hand sanitisers and follow other precautions. “Since the news of an elderly woman testing positivespread, we have locked ourselves in our houses for the fear of contracting the infection,” said Kuljeet Sidhu, a neighbour.
Lalit Saini, a homemaker living in the locality, said: “It is unfortunate that not enough government officials are on the ground to create awareness after Mohali has reported its first case. If something untoward happens to us, who will be responsible?”
“There were no barricades on the road for two hours after the woman was taken away. Who knows how many people passed the area,” said Rajinder Singh, a retired government employee residing nearby.
Local councillor and deputy mayor Manjit Singh Sethi, who visited the spot, said: “The area has been sanitised and fogging was also conducted. The lane outside the woman’s house has been closed for public movement.”
The Mohali administration has set up paid quarantine facilities at Hotel Majestic in Phase 9 and Hotel Cama in Phase 3A in Mohali; Hotel Almeda and Velvet Clarke in Zirakpur; and Hotel Arista in Sunny Enclave and Hotel Royal on Landran road in Kharar. Residents can avail of the facility against a payment of up to ₹3,000 a day. Police and enforcement teams will maintain strict vigil at these hotels and the health parameters of the quarantined people will be monitored by the civil surgeon and the district nodal officer.
A 26-year-old woman who was booked after she went missing from PGIMER on Thursday night has been traced. She has tested negative for coronavirus. Deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said the woman, a resident of Sector 68, who returned from the UK with suspected coronavirus symptoms, was admitted to the PGIMER but fled from the emergency wing, endangering lives of other people and violating quarantine guidelines. Therefore, an FIR was lodged against her.
Restaurants in Mohali will only make home deliveries and discontinue dine-in facilities, the district administration has ordered. Hotels will remain open but banquet halls and marriage palaces will be closed, deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said. A gathering of more than 20 persons will not be allowed at social/religious functions. All officers will leave station only with the DC’s permission.
The revenue bar association, Mohali, has decided to suspend work in the revenue department (tehsil office) at the district administrative complex in the city till March 25.
