Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : Seven persons detected positive to Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Bhojpur district on April 27, 2020, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 9 in the district. Incidentally, the first Coronavirus positive patient in the district tested negative and was discharged from Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), Patna, on April 26, 2020, evening, though he has been confined to the quarantine centre for 14 days.
Two positive cases of Coronavirus were detected at Gausganj, one at Nala Road under Ara town police station, and one at Bihia under the same police station while the location of three positive cases was being ascertained.
As the news of Coronavirus positive cases spread, Bhojpur district administration was on toes. Team of doctors rushed to the spot and admitted them to the isolation ward of Ara Sadar Hospital. Officials of district administration are looking into their travel history and 3km radius of Nala Road, Gausganj, and Bihia have been sealed and declared hotspot. The residents of the areas have been warned not to come out of their houses and maintain complete lockdown failing which stern action would be taken against them.
The first Coronavirus positive case was detected at Rampur village under Krishnagarha police station in Bhojpur district on April 19, 2020, and was referred to Patna the same day. A 26 year old youth of the village had travelled from New Delhi to his native village via Kanpur and Balia in Uttar Pradesh along with three persons. It was reported that the five persons, who detected Coronavirus positive on April 27, 2020, had come in contact with him. Of the remaining two new positive cases, one is a sweeper at Ara Sadar Hospital. Police are trying to know the number of persons they came in contact with.
Meanwhile, Bhojpur district administration ordered the vegetable and fruit vendors to install makeshift stalls at Ara Raman Maidan after 3 km areas around Bhaluhipur, Gausganj, Nala Road, Maulabagh, Abarpur, Sheesh Mahal Chowk, Milki Mohalla, Gopali Chowk, Gola Road, Mirganj, Old Police Line, Chaudhariana, Gangi Bridge, Baghawatpur, Dharahara, Bind Toli, Aliganj, Ramgariha, Syndicate and their vicinity were sealed and declared containment areas and no one is being allowed to cross the limit.
Bhojpur DM Roushan Kushwaha ordered to sanitise the areas and directed to keep round the clock vigil. He also ordered Aaganwadi Sevikas, Sahayikas, Asha workers, and ANMs to visit the areas in teams and identify the infected persons. The DM also directed to maintain social distancing but the people still thronged the vegetable counters in the presence of police personnel.
Eight daily wage earners from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh were detained at Sheesh Mahal Chowk under Ara Town police station in Bhojpur district on April 27, 2020, when they were going to Nepal on foot. Police brought them over to Ara Sadar Hospital for medical examination and quarantined them at H N K School. These daily wage earners were employed with a private company in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh for the last four months and were stranded there due to lockdown.