Over 5,000 quarantined in Maharashtra after being in close contact with Covid-19 patients

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope says around 4,000 heath department staffers have been deputed for surveillance and follow up of people quarantined.

Deserted streets in Mumbai following the lockdown imposed to curb spread of coronavirus | Photo: Vasant Prabhu | ThePrint

Mumbai: Over 5,000 people in Maharashtra have been quarantined so far as they were in close contact with 162 COVID-19 patients in the state, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said here on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Tope said that 5343 people have been identified as high risk contact, because they were in close contact with the 162 COVID-19 positive patients in the state

“We have quarantined these ‘high risk contact’ people as they are likely to be infected or are carriers of the coronavirus infection, he said.

It is a clear indication that more people will test positive for coronavirus in coming days, the minister said.

Around 4,000 heath department staffers have been deputed for surveillance and follow up of these people, he said.