Two ‘front line workers’ test positive for Covid-19

Under-training cop and his family and an ambulance driver shifted to RIUKT

ATTOCK/ RAWALPINDI/ JHELUM: A policeman and a rescue worker in Rawalpindi have become the latest to be infected by Covid-19 as the total number of cases in the district rose to 61.

A police constable, who was training at the Rawat Police Training School (PTS) and was living with his family in the Police Lines in the Gujjar Khan area, had tested positive, the police officials said.

Officers said that the constable had suddenly started displaying symptoms of the virus, prompting officials to obtain swab samples and dispatch them for testing.

When the results came back positive, the constable and his family were shifted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT) - which has been serving as a dedicated facility for treating Covid-19 patients.

Meanwhile, teams of the health department have started compiling a list of people who had contact with the victim.

Another frontline worker, a Rescue 1122 worker, was also shifted to RIUKT on Wednesday after his test results confirmed that he had contracted the virus.

He had been under observation at the isolation ward in the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) but was later moved to RIUKT.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson said that the official worked as an ambulance driver at the Chandni Chowk station. The official added that a co-worker of the ambulance driver has also been shifted to the isolation ward at BBH as a precautionary measure.

The spokesperson rejected reports the virus had been transmitted from any of the suspected or infected patients who travelled in the ambulance and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for rescue staff, explaining that this particular vehicle was not part of the team responsible for shifting Covid-19 patients.

The spokesperson added that only designated teams dealt with Covid-19 patients and all of them were equipped with PPE.

When asked if other workers could be affected by the virus as well, the official assured that any rescue worker who displays symptoms of the virus will be tested.

Further, sources in Rescue 1122 said that samples from the colleague of the Covid-19 patient have been dispatched for testing.

Four pilgrims infected

A test for Covid-19 in four pilgrims came back as positive on Wednesday, raising the number of confirmed Covid-19 patients in Jhelum district to 43, district health officials said.

The four patients had been brought to Jhelum after they had spent two weeks at a quarantine centre in Multan.

Jhelum District Health Authority (DHA) Chief Executive Officer Dr Wasim Iqbal said two people were released from the Jhelum Civil Hospital on Wednesday after they tested negative for the virus and their isolation period ended.

Dr Iqbal said 10 of those who had tested positive for the virus in the district were preachers, adding that currently, some 232 people remain in quarantine centres in Jhelum.

Nine test positive in Attock

The Attock district health authorities on Wednesday said that nine pilgrims, who had arrived in the district from the quarantine centre in Multan, have tested positive for Covid-19.

Attock Coronavirus Cell Incharge Dr Asif Niazi told the media on Wednesday that around 19 pilgrims had arrived in the district after having spent 14 days in Taftan and then another 14 days in Multan, where they were cleared to travel upcountry.

He added that as per SOPs, they were quarantined when they arrived in Attock, and now nine of them have tested positive for the virus.

Asked about the conditions of those who had tested positive, Dr Niazi said that they are in a stable condition while they are being provided with treatment facilities for their early recovery.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM WIRES

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2020.