About 1,500 health workers and 2,400 police personnel are undertaking the country’s largest screening exercise for Covid-19 in a battle to save pandemic-hit Bhilwara that has reported two deaths so far
JAIPUR: Rishi Sharma (name changed) begins his day with prayers to keep him safe. He has a town to save. Bhilwara, which has emerged as the epicentre of Covid-19 in Rajasthan. The 24-year-old government nursing staffer is part of a huge team of 1,500 health workers and 2,400 police personnel undertaking the country’s largest screening exercise for the novel coronavirus after 19 cases of virus infection were reported from Bhilwara, including 15 doctors and healthcare workers at the city's Banger hospital, taking the state's tally to 40 until March 26.
The magnitude of the task feels overwhelming. The textile town of six lakh people in Rajasthan is under curfew since last week even before the nationwide lockdown was announced. Some 6,000 persons in Bhilwara are under the scanner and about 50 have been put in isolation wards so far. Bhilwara’s borders are sealed and the vast majority of the population is struggling for essential services. Officials said they have planned three rounds of screening.
How the outbreak began in Bhilwara
The outbreak in Bhilwara began last week after a doctor in a city hospital tested positive for coronavirus. The doctor admitted a patient with pneumonia in the ICU earlier last month, who was allegedly carrying the virus. The patient at the time wasn't asked about his travel history. He later died in a hospital in Jaipur. From there, the virus spread to other medicos and members of the hospital's paramedical staff, and could have infected other patients who visited the hospital. The hospital is now sealed. Two deaths have been reported from the town so far.
The magnitude of the task feels overwhelming. The textile town of six lakh people in Rajasthan is under curfew since last week even before the nationwide lockdown was announced. Some 6,000 persons in Bhilwara are under the scanner and about 50 have been put in isolation wards so far. Bhilwara’s borders are sealed and the vast majority of the population is struggling for essential services. Officials said they have planned three rounds of screening.