A 44-year-old woman resident of Sector 15, Panchkula, who tested positive for novel coronavirus on Tuesday, is found to have travelled to Pathankot in neighbouring state Punjab on March 18 to attend an extended relative’s funeral.
So far, at least 16 family members who came in contact with her during this period have been traced and are being kept in isolation. The contacts belong to distant towns, including Mohali and Narayangarh. Other contacts including those in Pathankot are being traced. The women’s husband tested positive late Wednesday and by Thursday, 7 more family members were tested positive. Reports on other contacts are being awaited.
The patient had kept working for the post office of Sector 15 as an agent till the lockdown began.
According to a report by the Indian Express, Sonia Mahajan tried to hide her travel history. She had developed symptoms as early as April 2 and visited a private hospital on April 6. However, she was sent home as she had no travel history. On April 11, she developed sever symptoms and visited Civil Hospital, Panchkula where she tested positive for novel coronavirus. It was only after her phone locations were traced that the administration came to know about her travel out of state. According to sources, some of her extended relatives in Pathankot too had tested positive and upon the intimation of the CMO Panchkula on Wednesday, more have been quarantined.
Six doctors belonging to the private hospital of Sector 11 where she went for treatment on April 6 including a senior doctor, a nurse and X-ray technician have also been isolated at Civil Hospital.
Meanwhile, whole Sector 15 was notified as containment zone and has been sealed off with residents asked to stay inside their homes.
