Covid-19 in Sikkim: Mumbai returnee tests positive; total climbs to 3

Guwahati: Sikkim has reported its 3rd case of the Covid-19 today after a Mumbai returnee tested positive for the deadly pathogen.

According to media reports, the man had exhibited Covid-19 symptoms while in Mumbai. Although he had sent his samples for testing, he embarked on a train to Sikkim when the Government made arrangements to repatriate migrants to their own state. The man received news of his Covid-19 positive status aboard a Shramik Special train headed to New Jalpaiguri that he had boarded.

This incident has raised alarm as the COVID carrier was travelling with many others who are headed to all corners of Northeast India. 12 people are now being taken to a quarantine facility to prevent an outbreak. According to reports, the patient is being taken from the New Jalpaiguri railway station to Sikkim's STNM hospital in a separate ambulance for treatment. There, he will be tested again for traces of the virus.

It may be recalled here that Sikkim reported its first case of the Coronavirus on Saturday, May 23. The first positive patient from the state is a 25-year-old man who had returned to the state from New Delhi where he was preparing for the UPSC exams. Government sources said that both patients who are undergoing treatment at STNM Hospital in Sokeythang near Gangtok are asymptomatic. The second case was detected on Tuesday night when a Delhi returnee tested positive for the virus. The 56-year-old man, who returned from the national capital on May 25, was found to be COVID-19 positive. According to officials, the man was undergoing quarantine at a facility in the Mining Area of East Sikkim on arrival from Delhi.

Although the state of Sikkim which was long untouched by the virus was eyeing to open up its schools and educational institutions in June, the opening has been deferred till July 1 said Chief Minister PS Golay. The CM told media that this decision has been taken in view of public safety amid coronavirus pandemic.

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