As India approaching the end of lockdown on May 3, Jalandhar has become a matter of concern for the government of Punjab. As per Monday morning report, Jalandhar registered 80 positive cases out of which 50 cases were linked to a well-renowned media organization Punjab Keshari. This means Punjab Keshari has contributed more than sixty-per cent of the total cases of Jalandhar.
As per health officials, till 25 April, more than two hundred samples had been taken from the organisation employees. As contact tracing is going, more cases with links to Punjab Kesari are expected to be reported, health officials and members of the administration in Jalandhar said.
As per reports, the workers were told to work from home from mid-April. On the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs, most of the organizations were shut down or employees opted for work from home. However, a few sections of the society were exempted which included media. Though social distancing was the principal norm which the working individuals had to adopt, even the journalist. However, as per an insider, social distancing in Punjab Keshari's office is somewhat difficult.
As per reports, three of the employees who have tested positive with the virus live in rented accommodation around the office. A 70-year-old was tested positive and as per reports, there was a Punjab Kesari employee living as a tenant. As per health officials, all the localities where the employees with the novel coronavirus were living have been sealed. The father of a sub-editor at Punjab Kesari and six of his contacts have also tested positive for COVID-19. However, the sub-editors report is still to come.
As per the Caravan, six employees of Punjab Keshari went to the Hola Mohalla in Punjab Rupnagar district—an annual six-day Sikh event that is attended by lakhs of members of the community. Recently, two employees of Punjab Keshari who were from Himachal Pradesh Chamba district tried to go back home hiding in a milk van. However, they were nabbed and later tested positive.
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The organization claim that one of the employees came in contact with the first COVID-19 patient Baldev Singh. However, quoting Shyam Veda, an epidemiologist in Nawanshahr, Caravan revealed that the theory does not seem to be true. As per Veda, employees of Punjab Keshari could not have infected from Baldev Singh. She was quoted, "Had he been in the contact list, he would have been quarantined which did not happen."
As per Veda, all the isolated people who were in contact with Baldev Singh have been discharged. As per health officials of Jalandhar no contact of Punjab Keshari's employee had been traced with Baldev Singh.
As per KBS Sidhu, the special chief secretary of Punjab said that the administration is trying to trace contacts of the patients. “There is, as yet, no evidence of negligence on part of anyone but should such an indication surface in a future date, the law will take its own course,” he said.