It is going to be a herculean task to contact-trace the persons who were in touch with the four fresh COVID-19 cases reported from Bandipora district, officials said on Wednesday.
“They have spent at least ten days at home. In the first four days, one of them didn’t develop symptoms and lead a normal life. He must have got contacted dozens of people during this time and contact tracing them is going to be an uphill task,” a senior official in the health department told Brighter Kashmir.
“It is likely to be a long chain as these fresh cases have participated in religious events in different parts of J&K. We are trying to contact trace them,” officials said.
According to sources, the three victims have visited a seminary in Jammu region where they are believed to have spent some days before returning to Kashmir at least ten days ago.
“They were leading a normal life during which they also attended some religious events. This is a critical situation. We appeal all the people who have contacted these patients to stay inside their homes,” the official said.
He said if anyone of the contact persons develops COVID-19 like symptoms, they should follow the official protocol or get in touch with the health officials.
“It is the responsibility of people to cooperate with the administration to prevent further spread of this deadly virus,” he said.
The four persons who tested positive for Coronavirus on Wednesday hail from Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. With this, the number of Covid-19 patients in Kashmir has reached eight eight.
In a tweet, the government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal, said all these four persons were in close contact with the patient from Hyderpora who tested positive on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, officials at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences said two contact persons, who had apparently developed symptoms, were admitted at the quarantine facility on Wednesday.
“They have symptoms which correlate with that of COVID-19. We have got their samples and they have been sent for testing. Reports are awaited,” SKIMS officials said.