One third of coronavirus cases in Bihar belong to one family

Patna : Nearly one third of the positive coronavirus cases reported in Bihar belongs to one family in Siwan district, a COVID-19 hotspot about 130 km from state capital Patna. The chain of coronavirus infection started from one man who returned to India from Oman last month.

The man, who returned to his village - Panjwar in Siwan - on March 16 and tested positive for coronavirus on April 4, had traveled to several parts in the district during this period, according to the officials.

Twenty-two others in the family including women and children tested positive later; most of them did not show symptoms of the highly contagious disease. Two others in the village have been tested positive.

Four of the 23 family members have recovered, officials said, but they will remain under quarantine for two weeks. Test results of 10 others in the family are awaited.

"We are happy that we have been able to track the patient. This was after all those who returned to the state from any foreign country after March 15 were universally tested," Sanjay Kumar, Principal Health Secretary told NDTV, adding that the "village where these cases have been reported has also been sealed".

"I want to appeal to all the people that this virus is an invisible enemy. It's very important to stay indoors at this time and take precautions," he added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has recently appealed to the people of state that anyone who had returned from the foreign country, they must come forward and get their COVID-19 tests done.

Across India, more than 6,400 cases of coronavirus, which originated in China's Wuhan city, have been reported; at least 199 people have died.