Sikkim: Driver ferrying quarantine inmates tests COVID-19 positive

The driver, who was tested COVID-19 positive in Sikkim on the 5^th of July, had been engaged in ferrying returnees from the screening centre at Rangpo to the designated quarantine centres in East District, the DG-cum-Secretary, Health, Dr. Pempa T. Bhutia informed.

It was informed that he, along with 13 other drivers (non-SNT drivers) had been hired by the administration on a fixed rate exclusively for this purpose. They were being kept in a designated hotel (transit camp) in Rangpo since the time they were hired.

It was informed that the driver who tested positive had ferried the returnee lodged at Himalayan Pharmacy Institute Boys Hostel who had tested positive on the 3rd of July. Two other drivers in his group were also engaged in ferrying returnees to the quarantine centre at HPI Boys Hostel on the same day. The two drivers however, tested negative for Covid-19.

Also read: Tripura: Pregnant woman undergoing treatment tests COVID-19

The Contact Tracing Team immediately got into the act and lodged the 2 drivers (primary contacts) into the quarantine centre. Likewise, the wife and daughter of the Covid-19 positive driver were also being isolated in a quarantine centre as a precautionary measure. Their samples will be tested tomorrow. The 11 remaining drivers lodged in the hotel (transit camp) in Rangpo will also be tested tomorrow.

Speaking about the status of the 20 SSB jawans who had tested positive on the 5th of July, the Sikkim DG-cum-Secretary informed that out of a total of 64 jawans, 20 had tested positive, while the remaining 44 have tested negative. However, they will again undergo a confirmatory test after 7 days. Till then, they will continue to be lodged in the camp/quarantine centre.

The other person who had tested positive on the 5th July was a Delhi returnee, who had travelled along with 11 other persons and was lodged in a paid quarantine centre in Gangtok. 4 other persons had also shared the same hotel. The 15 primary contacts of the Covid-19 patient will be tested immediately, he informed.

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