Coronavirus: Two test positive as virus travels from Iran to Leh

LEH — The two patients who have tested positive for deadly Coronavirus in Leh have recently arrived from Iran and had been there for pilgrimage purpose. They have been admitted to Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital (SNM) Leh, officials said.

Medical Superintendent (MS) of the SNM Hospital Leh, Dr Tsering Samphel said that two individuals have tested positive for novel Coronavirus on Saturday.

In a joint presser, Medical Superintendent Dr Tsering said that the two patients who have tested positive have their travel history from Iran and had been there for pilgrimage purpose for several days.

Dr Tsering said that one of the patient admitted to SNM Hospital here had flown to Delhi from Tehran back on February 26 after which he landed in Ladakh on February 28 while another patient had landed in Delhi on February 22 and arrived in Ladakh on February 27 who showed some early symptoms and was admitted to SNM Hospital on February 29.

He said that on arrival on being screened by the medical team, they were rushed to medical health centre and kept in isolation centre as their physique was suspected to have been infected by COVID-19.

After conducting the tests of suspects, the samples were sent to Pune for final confirmation. “The results were received this afternoon which showed their tests as ‘positive for Coronavirus’,” Dr Tsering said.

Dr Tsering Samphel furthermore said that both the patients have been kept in isolation at SNM Hospital Leh and the necessary treatment is being given to both of them. However, the identification of both the individuals was not known immediately.