Multistoried building in Karnataka sealed after 2 test positive for new covid variant

Bengaluru, Dec 29: A multistorey apartment in the city, where a mother and her daughter tested positive for the new Coronavirus variant, stayed in the City on Tuesday was sealed by the BBMP.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials tried to shift as many as 22 families out of the complex to institutional quarantine or hotels. But reversed the decision after residents resisted the move.

Dr GK Suresh, Deputy Health Officer, Bommanahalli zone, who was at the apartment said, "since the apartment dwellers did not agree to be shifted out, we have sealed down the apartment. As many as 37 people are residing in 12 houses. We will be placing barricades. They will all be secondary contacts as they've all used the same lift and staircases. All their samples have been taken and sent to the lab for RT PCR tests."

Dr BK Vijayendra, Chief Health Officer, Public Health, BBMP, said, "Primary contacts of Covid positive UK returnees have been asked to be shifted to institutional quarantine, that is, hotels, by the government. Till last night, there were 45 primary contacts of 16 Covid patients from the UK in the city. Previously, they were in home quarantine."

M Ramakrishna, Joint Commissioner, Bommanahalli, confirmed that they're not shifting the families. "We are not shifting any families. We are keeping all primary and secondary contacts at their respective homes itself," he added.