Sikkim government has tracked down co-passengers of the woman who lost her life fighting Coronavirus at the North Bengal Medical College Hospital in Siliguri on March 30. The woman from Kalimpong had travelled to the Bagdogra airport from Chennai on March 19 and was admitted to the hospital on March 26 after she complained of fever and breathing problem.
The Sikkim residents, who accompanied the woman, are expected to get themselves tested at the earliest. “We are collecting samples for testing her co-passengers. It will be done by Tuesday. Eight co-passengers are undergoing home quarantine. Now, medical check-up would be done,” said Dr Pempa T Bhutia, Director General-cum-Secretary Health.
“Once they got flight details on March 29, tracking team of health department started tracking the co-passengers of the lady from Kalimpong who was admitted to North Bengal Medical College Hospital on March 26. They travelled from Chennai to Bagdogra and finally reached Sikkim. Tracking team has tracked 12 persons so far out of 320 who were onboard. We are still trying to find out the remaining people. At least 8 of them are under self-quarantine. Four have been sent to Rangpo mining, East Sikkim quarantine unit, on March 30,” he further added.
However, news agency UNI, citing sources, said that at least 4 of the co-passengers, who work together in Rangpo, did not declare their travel history and may not have followed self-quarantine.
Speaking about the present status of all the tracked passengers, Bhutia added that, “It is their 11th day, so far they have no symptoms of sickness. Mostly, the infected show symptoms within 8 days. Hence hopefully after self-quarantine, they would be more relaxed.”
