18 persons coming in contact with Arunachal COVID-19 patient test negative for disease
Their samples were sent for tests to the RegionalMedical Research Centre (RMRC) in Assam's Dibrugarh, LohitDistrict Medical Officer (DMO) Dr S Chai Pul said.
"The COVID-19 patient had defied quarantine andvisited a place of worship where he came in contact withfellow worshippers" she said.
The coronavirus patient had attended the TablighiJamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, the DMO said.
"The patient is now asymptomatic and is reported to bewithout any physical discomfort," Pul said.
The third sample of the COVID-19 patient, who isadmitted to Tezu Zonal Hospital, along with second samples ofhis family members will be sent for tests on Tuesday andresults are expected on Wednesday, she said.
The second sample of the COVID-19 patient had testedpositive for coronavirus on April 7 but with lesser viralloads, the DMO said.
A total of 253 samples from across the state have beentested for coronavirus so far, of which results for 223 havereturned negative and those of 29 are awaited, StateSurveillance Officer (IDSP) Dr L Jampa said.
Meanwhile, the Health Department sought to assuageconcerns of a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PEE)kits for frontline personnel and said the state is fullyprepared to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
Joint Director of Health Services, Dr Emi Rumi saidHindustan Latex Limited (HLL), a public sector undertaking,has dispatched 2,102 PPE kits till Sunday, of which 2,082 havebeen sent to the hospitals in the districts.
Another consignment of 1,700 to 2,000 PPE kits isexpected to reach the state by Tuesday, he said.
Director of Health Services (DHS) M Lego said peopleof the state have misconceptions regarding PPE kits.
"We don't have any authority to certify which are goodor bad quality PPE kits. But there are different kinds of PPEkits categorised according to the risk and need base," hesaid.
Appealing to healthcare professionals not to worryabout any misinformation regarding the poor quality of PPEkits, Dr Jampa said, "The PPE kits provided by HLL can provideenough protection from coronavirus infection." UPLACD ACD