KUPWARA: A chemist was among two persons, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday taking the total number of positive cases in Kupwara district to 25, with Anderhama Shahwali Muqam village alone registering eight positive cases so far.
He is one among many contacts of Muqam Shawali boy, who tested positive last Thursday. The chemist coming positive has triggered fears among locals for obvious reasons. Many would visit his shop for medicines, locals said.
At least eight persons, who had come in contact with Thursday’s positive case have tested positive – which is highest number of positive cases in terms of contact tracing in the district so far.
Out of eight positive cases, at least six include his family members. “A good number of people would visit chemist for medicines. That is why, locals of Anderhama and adjoining -Shawali and Drugmulla villages –are facing nightmares,” a Drugmulla local said.
At least 40 persons who had come in contact with Drugmulla boy have been quarentined so far but the contact tracing is still on. Now the authorities have started to track people who may have come in contact with the chemist, an official said.
The Muqam Shawali boy who had a travel hsitory of Delhi and contact links with Nizamudin is accused of concealing his travel history. Police filed a case against him for concealing the travel history.
Anderhama has already been categorized as red zone in addition to six red zones in the district.
At least 122 people have been kept under institutional quarantine and 16 in hospital quarantine as on Wednesday, according to media bulletin issued by district authorities. At least 254 people have tested negative and 431 are under home quarantine in the district.
