Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, March 19
Unprecedented containment measures have been put in place at a Nawanshahr village after its 70-year-old resident, with travel history to Germany and Italy, tested positive for Covid-19 and died yesterday.
While 17 persons — 12 from victim’s family, three hospital staff and a resident from nearby Chikka village who travelled abroad with the victim — were put in isolation last evening at Banga’s Pathlawa village, the Nawanshahr administration today quarantined the village with a population of 2,200. The victim’s family includes three sons, their wives and six to seven children, among others.
The measures have been put in place on a war footing to ensure containment of the virus. Police checkpoints had been set up at eight entry points, a doctor deputed and a vehicle pressed into service to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the village. All residents have been directed to stay indoors for the next 14 days.
The victim along with two relatives and the Chikka resident had visited Germany in February and spent two-three days in Italy before returning to India on March 7. The villagers have set up a grocery shop and started two helpline numbers — one for health-related emergencies and the second for ration.
DC Vinay Bublani said: “Samples of those who have or are displaying symptoms are being taken.”
Sarpanch Harpal Singh said: “The doctor is gathering social contact history of all villagers.” Despite mandatory quarantine, the victim after arriving in India visited Anandpur Sahib, he said. He was taken to private hospitals in Jalandhar and Phagwara on Tuesday, before being referred to a civil hospital on Wednesday.
Drastic measures
- Pathlawa has 2.2K population
- 8 entry points barricaded
- 24×7 doctor deputed
- Vehicle stationed for ration
- Village starts 2 helplines
Victim met scores at Dera
The district administration is in a tizzy as the Banga resident used to perform kirtan at a dera in Pathlawa village twice every day. Villagers said as many as 150 persons visited the dera daily. Almost all of them had met him after his return to India on March 7.