3 rly staffers who came in contact with Odisha's first COVID-19 patient sent to self quarantine

Three railway staffers on board Delhi-Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani Express, who came in contact with a COVID-19 positive passenger, have been asked to quarantine mselves, a senior official of East Coast Railway said on Tuesday.

Odisha's first COVID-19 positive man came in contact with at least 129 people during his journey by train from New Delhi and after his arrival in Bhubaneswar on March 11.

33-year-old man, a researcher at Universita degli Studi di Mila in Italy, was admitted to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar last Saturday. His swab test report late on Sunday night showed positive for vel coronavirus.

Three ticket examiners, who are railway employees, along with a bedroll staffer and two catering staff -- who are contractual employees -- have been sent on self quarantine, official said.

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"y have been asked to be self quarantined and instructed to report to railway medical authority in case y develop symptoms," said J P Mishra, spokesperson, East Coast Railway.

Mishra said it was "pure luck" that coach in which infected patient was travelling was detached at Bhubaneshwar for routine maintenance work, thus restricting possibility of virus spreading on return journey.

"So, it was lucky that passenger travelled in same coach as COVID-19 patient from Bhubaneshwar to Delhi," he said.

official said railways has already provided details of 72 passengers who travelled in same coach as COVID-19 positive patient to authorities.

government has identified 53 people, including doctor and staff of a private clinic visited by patient who have all been suggested home quarantine as a precautionary measure, state government officials said.

number of confirmed coronavirus cases in country rose to 126 according to Union health ministry. 

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