How Pilibhit won its battle against Covid-19

LUCKNOW: With its two patients discharged on Monday, Pilibhit became the first UP district where all reported cases have recovered.
The district had two patients—71-year-old Shakila and her son Meraj Hussain. Both have recovered and gone home. Some curbs are still in place though.
The district’s success in limiting the spread and quick tracking of patients was also discussed in the CM’s meeting.“Work of health department and administration has been appreciated by the CM and he has asked everyone to take motivation from it,” additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Awasthi said. State surveillance officer Vikasendu Agarwal said: “Prompt tracking of the first patient and her quick lodging into the isolation ward has been the main strength of the team in Pilibhit.”
DM Vaibhav Srivastava said: “Shakila had landed in Delhi from Umrah pilgrimage on March 19. We were able to track her within two hours of her arrival at home on March 20. Since she had flulike symptoms, she was immediately shifted to the isolation ward. We did it even before we got an intimation from the headquarters in Lucknow.”
Shakila’s samples were sent to KGMU Lucknow on March 21 after which the infection was confirmed. , Her son Meraj too had contracted the infection. Health officials found that a cellphone had been the source of transfer. On March 23, Covid-19 was confirmed in Meraj. All 37 people with whom Shakila had travelled were contacted for testing. All of them tested negative.