Kerala: Mass swab collection drive in Sreemoolanagaram after infants come in contact of Covid-19 positive nurse

KOCHI: Fear and anxiety have gripped residents in Sreemoolanagaram and nearby panchayats as infants in the age group of three months to one and half years old have been placed under quarantine after coming in contact with the staff nurse at the primary health centre, who was tested positive for Covid-19. This is the second case, in which the source of infection is still unknown in the district.
74 infants and their mothers have been placed under quarantine, besides 13 hospital staff, six Asha workers and others.Around 167 people have been placed under quarantine and the number will increase as the source of infection has not been identified so far. These people came in contact with the nurse during the immunization drive held on June 15 and 16. While the nurse developed symptoms on June 17 night. Her husband showed symptoms in two days after that. six wards in Sreemoolanagaram panchayat have already been placed under containment zones.
"As mothers and relatives of the infants are anxious, we have started sample collection. Samples of 74 infants and their mothers will be collected. The source of infection is still unknown. Her husband was also tested positive. Their daughter also developed symptoms of Covid and her sample was collected. The nurse is also worried over the developments," said a panchayat official.
The nurse and her husband had visited Tripunithura and Malayatoor too.
10 of the 74 infants are from neighbouring panchayats Chengamanad, Vazhakulam and Kanjoor.
Meanwhile, the source of infection of the Nayarambalam native, who was tested positive, is still not clear. Health officials said the man had visited the house of some North Paravoor natives, who reached Kerala from other states recently. Swab of members of family, came from other states, collected for testing in this regard.
Samples of seven staff in a nursing home, where the man sought medication for fever and sore throat, collected for test. Following the list sought by district health authorities on people who came in close contact with the patient, panchayat authorities sent a list of 11 people.