Officials, however, dismissed the claim and assertedthat the womans sample was collected and sent for testingafter she was found symptomatic when a team conductingdoor-to-door screening reached her house.
The husband of the patient, who is admitted to ahospital in the town, let out a cry when he reached his homeat Mathurapur village in Kahalgaon block of the district andalleged that he was taken away to a quarantine centre bymedical and police officials, who claimed that his wife hadtested positive.
My daughters were also taken to a quarantine centerwhere they are still lodged. I was discharged today after Iwas told my test reports are negative. But how did my wifetest positive when she never gave her sample, the husbandasked.
Her daughters said to be in their teens said thesame when they were spoken to over phone and alleged we keptpleading with the authorities when they came to our place onMay 03 that there was some misunderstanding. But nobodylistened to us. Our mother has been banished to an isolationward while we are here at a quarantine center.
However, deputy superintendent of the sub divisionalhospital at Kahalgaon, Lakhan Murmu rubbished the allegationsand said the woman was found symptomatic during door-to-doorscreening on April 01.
"She was asked to stay in home quarantine and on May 01her sample was collected at the Sharda Pathshala schoolpremises which is serving both as a quarantine centre as wellas a testing centre, he said.
Incidentally, both daughters of the woman have beenkept at the Sharda Pathshala. However, they along with theirfather have the common refrain she (the patient) nevervisited Sharda Pathshala.
The husband also cites discrepancies like the womansage having been stated to be 26 years though her Aadhar cardstates that she was born on January 01, 1985.
The medical officer was tight-lipped on this claim andinsisted that the authorities had acted on the basis ofsymptoms that the woman presented during screening and testreports came after her sample was collected in due course.
Meanwhile, Pintu Ram a former headman of the concernedPanchayat expressed concern over the episode and demanded ahigh-level inquiry.
The woman and her family members have underwentenormous mental trauma and their neighbors made to live infear of the contagion. The lapse is indicative of a terriblemix up which could have serious consequences.
"Apparently, the woman has been mistaken for some otherCOVID 19 patient who might be still at his or her home, withpeople around exposed to the infection", he added. CORRNACSNS SNS