Budgam, June 10: Authorities ‘forced’ the would-be-bride sister of a Covid warrior doctor and his family members to spend 14 days in quarantine despite all were tested negative for Covid-19 infection in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
A Doctor (name withheld) from Baadipora Chadoora area of Central Kashmir is posted at District Hospital Shopian. He operated a pregnant lady in the hospital who after delivery was found positive for Covid-19. The doctor, who rarely visited home after the outbreak of Coronavirus was tested, found positive and isolated at a Centre in Shopian district.
Back in Chadoora, the samples of his 11 family members including would-be-bride were taken by Budgam authorities on 29 May and test report was given to family on 3 June and all family members except would-be-bride sister of the doctor was declared negative and she was shifted to JVC SKIMS Bemina while the family members were quarantined at a school in Charar-e-Sharif.
At JVC SKIMS Bemina, the sister of the doctor was declared negative a day after her admission but was not discharged.
“She was scheduled to get married but we had to postpone the marriage as the authorities even after discharging her from JVC, quarantined her for more 14 days, despite her test being found negative,” said a family member.
“People having influence and approach are being sent to home after declaring negative and even their tests are conducted within days, but the poor still suffer even in this pandemic,” they said adding that medical team even didn’t allow them to collect their garments from home, even though they were found negative for Covid-19 infection.
The family members including the sister of the doctor are in quarantine centre. “All are negative and yet are being now informed that they will be tested again,” said a relative of the doctor alleging harassment in the name of protocol.
The family of the doctor who till yesterday was called Covid warrior alleged that they are being treated like criminals and untouchables.
Block Medical Officer Budgam, Dr Tajamul Hussin didn’t pick up the phone, however, an official said that they are only following the protocol.