Timely action saved Bathinda district from virus spread

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 10

Bathinda district has not seen a single case of Covid-19 so far. The district administration sealed its interstate border with Haryana after curfew was imposed on March 22 to stop the influx of persons from other states.

As per information, from March 22 to April 8, samples of 100 suspected patients were taken and sent for testing at a Patiala lab, of which 98 reports tested negative, while two reports are awaited.

In a major relief to residents, as many as 77 samples taken of those with links to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation have been reported negative. The remaining 23 samples were taken from NRIs who had come from Covid-affected countries and these all also have also been reported negative.

Moreover, the Health Department got a list of 1,587 people with international and domestic travel history since January 1 in the district, of which 1,577 people were traced and kept in 14 days’ home quarantine. The department claims 10 persons who had not been traced had given their addresses. These had been sent to the police.

The police here have been particularly strict against violators of curfew. From March 22 to April 9, the Bathinda police filed 74 cases of curfew violations at 19 police stations. As many as 245 persons were booked and 170 were arrested. The police are also keeping a tab on violations using drones.

Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said, “We understand the problems being faced by poor people due to the curfew, but the risk of Covid is far more serious than these problems. One small mistake can prove deadly for the whole district.”

He said the disease only got transmitted through mutual contact and everyone should understand the meaning of social distancing and should not step out of their homes. He said the district administration was working day and night to transport goods of daily use to people.