Srinagar: A research scholar, who returned from Coronavirus-affected China, was on Thursday quarantined at the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) as a precautionary measure.
Doctors attending on him said the patient, who has been pursuing PhD in China, returned from the neighboring country recently.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan told The Kashmir Monitor that the youth has been “immediately” quarantined as a precautionary measure.
“He has not been detected with any virus. Investigations are still on. There is nothing to worry about. He is stable,” he said.
Dr Jan said the south Kashmir boy, who is in his late twenties, will be discharged once investigations are over. “We are examining him. He will be discharged in two to three days,” he said.
Sources said a girl who was pursuing engineering in China was also taken to SKIMS for tests. “She was brought here in an ambulance. The girl’s tests were negative and she was discharged later,” they said.
Panic gripped SKIMS when the news regarding quarantining of China-returned south Kashmir youth spread. Sources said the youth also tried to escape.
Sources said Director Health Services also arrived at SKIMS with a team of officials to look into the matter.
“The ambulance in which the patient was brought to the hospital has been seized by the hospital authorities as a precautionary measure,” they said.
Sources said that the south Kashmir youth had arrived at Kolkata airport where he was also investigated and declared as “not infected”.
Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Sameer Matoo said they have sent the samples of the youth to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
“He is stable. We are sure that he is safe. As a precautionary measure we collected his samples and sent those to AIIMS New Delhi since we don’t have such facilities here,” he said.
Coronavirus has created a medical emergency across the world and so far 1300 deaths have been reported in China so far.
Centre has issued an advisory to test people returning from China at all airports of the country.
