The officials of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh were left in quandary with as many as 232 patients went missing after they tested positive for Covid-19.
The patients have apparently given wrong phone numbers and addresses at the time of registration while giving their swabs for testing at various Covid-19 testing centres in Tirupati.
When they were found positive for Covid-19, the concerned staff tried to contact them to inform and bring them to isolation, they are not getting any response as they are either switched off or wrong numbers. Even they could not be found at their address given in Aadhar cards.
According to official sources, at least 20 such cases are surfacing daily in the district which is a matter of serious concern.
“There is no chance of alerting them on their Covid-19 due to which they may move freely in the society which may cause further spread of the virus. This is an alarming situation as nobody is safe until everybody is safe,” an official said.
They suspect that such patients might have given wrong details fearing social stigma and some others could be mischievous as well.
District Collector Dr N Bharat Gupta told reporters that it was a sensitive issue which they had been dealing carefully.
"Police were asked to trace out the details and the lists are being sent to concerned ward secretariats. This type of attitude was unfortunate and everyone should feel responsible and provide correct details while undergoing tests", he maintained.
The health department authorities are taking the help of the police to trace the positive cases.
