Agartala: Another 22 people from the Border Security Force’s (BSF) 138th battalion at Dhalai district in Tripura, including 18 men, a woman and 3 children, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, a day after 13 others were found to be infected with the novel coronavirus.
With this, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state has risen to 64 so far. A total of 56 BSF jawans have tested positive in the last five days, first 12 and then 13 cases on two consecutive days. These include BSF personnel, families and a mess worker.
Taking to Twitter, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb confirmed the development. “Alert! 22 persons from 138th-Bn #BSF Ambassa found #COVID19 POSITIVE today including 18 Male, 1 Female, 3 Children.
Total #COVID19 POSITIVE cases in Tripura stands at 64 (2 already discharged, so active cases: 62) Don’t Panic, Govt is working vigilantly. #TripuraCOVID19Count,” he tweeted.
Alert!
22 persons from 138th-Bn #BSF Ambassa found #COVID19 POSITIVE today including 18 Male, 1 Female, 3 Children.
Total #COVID19 POSITIVE cases in Tripura stands at 64 (2 already discharged, so active cases : 62)
Don’t Panic, Govt is working vigilantly.#TripuraCOVID19Count
— Biplab Kumar Deb (@BjpBiplab) May 6, 2020
According to BSF public relations officer (PRO), around 250 personnel had travel history and they had joined duty after leave or training elsewhere prior to the lockdown.
“Investigation to trace the source of virus and reason behind the outbreak is on and a detailed report would be submitted to the state government within 7 days,” the PRO said.
Meanwhile, additional chief secretary SK Rakesh said that the Centre has notified the 50-bedded paramilitary hospital situated in Salbagan BSF headquarters as a COVID-19 hospital.
Talking about the development in the last 48 hours, Rakesh said that on Tuesday, a total of 378 tests were done, of which 185 were from Dhalai including BSF soldiers from Gandacherra, Nalkata and 10 more civilians.
All 30 patients and relatives who had stayed in Gandacherra hospital have tested negative. “As of now, 435 tests are being done, of which 259 are from Ambassa in Dhalai district and 51 are civilians from Magzin para which is adjacent to the BSF headquarters. A total of 19 samples have been collected from Mogbari and Police Lines area, which are also adjacent and 37 are other contacts,” Rakesh added.
The hospital has 50 beds but in order to maintain social distancing, it can keep 35 patients in the hospital. Once the patients are shifted to the COVID-19 hospital in BSF camp, the load on GBP hospital will come down, he said.
Rakesh also said that 10 buses from Kota in Rajasthan have arrived in Churaibari in North Tripura district and all 262 students have been placed under quarantine. The samples have been collected and once the reports come negative they would be released.
Earlier on Saturday, nine days after the Tripura CM announced the state as corona free, two jawans from Ambassa unit of the Border Security Force (BSF) under Dhalai district of the state were found to be COVID-19 positive.
According to reports, the health department has put over 1,214 people in different quarantine centres. A total of 6,661 samples have been tested as on Wednesday
With this, the total number of positive cases has gone up to 62, of which two have been discharged after they recovered. Now, 60 active cases remain in hospitals.
The state’s first positive case was reported on April 6 after a 45-year-old woman from Gomati district tested positive with travel history to Assam’s Guwahati. Meanwhile, the second case was reported on April 10, after a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. Both the positive patients have travel history by the same train on April 19.
Earlier, on April 23, chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb announced Tripura a coronavirus-free state shortly after the two patients tested negative and were discharged.
