Man who came in contact with 40 policemen tests positive for COVID-19

A 61-year-old man who had been voluntarily providing food to police personnel in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday (April 13).

The news came unwelcome for some since the man had come in contact with more than 40 police personnel.

The man, a native of Coimbatore, had gone to Delhi and returned on March 23 by flight. After testing negative for COVID-19 twice, he began providing food to the police personnel on duty on Mettupalayam road in Coimbatore. He had also visited the Thudiyalur police station in the district, apart from making visits to the district collectorate.

He later developed a cough and fever and gave his swab samples again for testing. According to health officials, he was confirmed to be infected by the virus on Friday and was admitted to ESIC hospital.

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Now, the health officials have sought testing for at least 40 police personnel who were on duty at Mettupalayam road. These officials are also in the process of tracing the man’s family members and other contacts.

Speaking to The Federal, officials in the health department said even if the police personnel tested negative twice for COVID-19, they will be asked to be quarantined in case they developed the symptoms later, the way it happened with the man.

This is reportedly the first case in Tamil Nadu where a volunteer distributing food has been infected with COVID-19.

To make matters worse, two more people who tested positive a couple of days ago, visited the district collectorate on April 7 to seek permission to travel to a neighbouring state.

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Health officials are still in the process of tracing other people who might have come in contact with the two, including the residents of the apartment in R S Puram where they live.

As on April 13, as many as 1,173 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, out of which 31 were children below the age of 10.

Following the spike in the number of cases, people venturing out to buy essential items were asked to wear face masks mandatorily in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Tirupur districts.

Local bodies and the district administrations in the state have warned people that their travel passes will be cancelled and their vehicles will be impounded for three months if found violating orders.