No community spread in Nagpur, but stay alert to avoid it

Nagpur: After more cases of Covid-19 were detected in Nagpur in last three days, authorities have increased the testing and active surveillance of the relatives and close contacts of patients. However, looking at early trends of test results, doctors have stated that the spread is still limited to family members and very close contacts.
Since Thursday, NMC checked more than 100 close contacts of positive patients.Of them, only six have tested positive.
For example, manager of the Khamla businessman who tested positive had travelled along with him to New Delhi. A shop assistant who tested positive used to attend the shop daily and was with the owner for most of the day between March 18 and 21. On the other hand, other two shop assistants who were not in that close contact have tested negative.
Khamla businessman’s family members including his mother, wife and son tested positive but his daughter tested negative. Similarly, all family members of the assistant tested negative and only his 17-year-old daughter was positive. Most importantly, neither maid servants, nor neighbours of any of these patients have tested positive so far.
“As far as Nagpur’s cases are concerned, we can definitely trace the infection source of every new local patient. Only those who are into close or long time contact of the positive patients have been infected so far,” said a senior doctor working in the laboratory of IGGMCH.
More than 85% of the total samples tested in this lab have been negative. It has till date tested 730 samples including 20 on March 29. Of these, 711 have been negative and 19 positive.
Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe also stressed this fact in his video message. “Most first phase patients in Nagpur have the infection source somewhere outside Nagpur. Those who have received infections in second phase have been infected by these first phase patients. There is no evidence of local or community spread yet,” he said.
A senior pulmonologist in city claimed this was the perfect time to restrict the coronavirus. “Only those in close contact of positive patients are getting infected. If we follow social distancing strictly, we can restrict the spread. Following the lockdown rules is important for next two weeks,” he said.