COVID-19 positive cases reach 29 in Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Even as the State's capital city has so far recorded 29 COVID-19 positive cases, the health authorities are still perplexed to trace the original sources of such infection.

While the source of infection of the first COVID patient Manish Tibruwal is yet to be ascertained, doctors and health officials are still investigating to detect the infection sources of other patients namely Dr Litihikesh, Dr Dipika Deka, Baroda Das (health worker), Debraj Acharjee of Baihata Chariali, Amarjyoti Deka (a GMCH patient), Dipika (16-year-old girl found positive after her death), Mangru Sahani and another patient at GMCH.

"We try to detect the original sources on the basis of travel history and contact history of patients. In case patients do not provide us accurate information it becomes difficult to trace the original sources of infection," a source in the health department said. It has also become difficult to trace the sources as infected persons are from different places – the Spanish Garden in Zoo Road, GMCH, and potatoes godown in Fancy Bazar.

After Mangru Sahani — a trader working at a potatoes godown in Fancy Bazar tested positive — 15 persons associated with him were found to be infected. Contact tracing of 15 persons led to the swab collection of 340 persons. On Saturday, Mahendra Shah and Suman Thakur associated (directly or indirectly) with Mangru Sahani tested COVID positive. "Suman Thakur is a barber; and thus many people might have come in contact with him for hair-cutting purpose. So, contact tracing of all persons may be very long. Contacting all persons may not be possible as the barber might not have kept details of their identity. Such a development also makes the task of infection-tracing difficult," the health department source pointed out.

Under such circumstances, the situation in Guwahati has become risky and many others might be infected if they do not follow precautions such as maintenance of social distancing, mask wearing, frequent washing of hands and avoidance of crowded places, he said.

Meanwhile, the Health department on Saturday collected swabs of 103 persons from Bhootnath who are suspected to have come in contact (directly or indirectly) with Mangru Sahani.