Bengaluru: London returnee infected house helps, security

BENGALURU: A 51-year-old man, who returned to Bengaluru from London and tested positive on March 22, has become a huge concern for the health and family welfare department. His son who had also travelled to London, two domestic helps in his house and security guard have all tested positive too.
On Tuesday, one domestic help’s family member tested positive.The other domestic help, a 33-year-old woman, is in the second trimester of pregnancy.
“She is stable and has hardly any symptoms. The foetus may not be affected by the infection,” said doctors treating her.
“This is how the virus spreads in the absence of strict adherence to home isolation,” said Dr Prakash Kumar, joint commissioner, communicable diseases, health and family welfare department. “However, it’s a good sign that the surveillance team were able to identify vulnerable patients in close contact. These domestic helps and guard live in small houses where quarantining is not possible. We are identifying all contacts of the positive persons living in small houses and taking them to public quarantaines,” said Dr Prakash Kumar.
While the son is now in a private hospital, the others are all in government hospitals.
The health department has recommended empiric use of hydroxychloroquine tablets for prophylaxis of health workers and family members of Covid-19 positive persons.