Shivalik
The deadly COVID-19, which first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December, has gripped the world by the throat. Economies have come to a standstill as countries announce partial or complete lockdowns in a bid to contain the spread of this highly infectious virus. What makes this virus even more lethal is its uncertain nature. It is also known to be asymptomatic and can take up to 14 days to show any signs in the infected.
While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has prescribed a 14-day incubation period for coronavirus, Kerala has extended it to 28 days after a person came back to India from Dubai on March 18 and tested positive for the virus 29 days after he was exposed to it.
Reportedly, a 62-year-old woman from Kerala's Pathanamthitta has tested positive for the novel virus 19th time in a row. Health authorities say this underlines the erratic behaviour of the Sars-CoV 2 virus that continues to worry the world. The woman has been in the hospital for 42 days now.
“The 62-year-old woman, who contracted the diseases after she came in contact with the Italy-returned family, tested positive even after 19 tests. She is not showing many symptoms also. We tried combination drugs several times,” said Pathanamthitta district medical officer Dr. N Sheeja.
The woman was admitted to the hospital on March 10 after contracting the coronavirus from a relative who returned to India from Italy. The three-member family came back to their home in Kerala’s Ranni on February 29 from Italy for a three-week leave and attended many functions before testing positive a week later. Many have contracted the virus from them.
“She doesn’t have other health problems now. Though she is asymptomatic she can transmit the disease to others. In Kozencherry government hospital we are planning to transfer her to Kottayam medical college hospital if the next result also turns positive,” said one of the doctors treating her.
