13 staffers at Delhi governor Anil Baijal's office test Covid positive

Before this, the positive cases have been reported from the office of Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Delhi Secretariat and the office of District Magistrates as well.
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal (File Photo| EPS)
Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal (File Photo| EPS)

NEW DELHI: In a worrying trend, more and more corona cases are being reported among non-field staffers of government offices.

On Tuesday, 13 positive cases were reported from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s office. Three staffers working at the Delhi Secretariat building too recently tested positive for the virus.

While two are from the General Administration Department (GAD) situated on the second floor the other is from the Public Works Department offices situated on the seventh floor of the building. This comes after a driver in the health department was tested for coronavirus last month. The GAD is responsible for maintenance of the entire office. Another three people reportedly tested positive at the transport department’s office at Under Hill road.

One of the employees posted at Delhi Secretariat said though the entire complex is sanitised twice a day, a lack of space at some blocks is a matter of concern.“In some blocks or departments, social distancing is not possible. Seating arrangements may lead to spread of the infection,” he said.

Recently, a Beldar (daily wager) at the New Delhi Municipal Council succumbed to the highly infectious disease. A total of 35 people have tested positive for the virus and most of them were office staff in the accounts department, out of which four have recovered. Tracing all the contacts of the people infected is currently underway.

“Calling full strength to work is not a sensible idea. There should have rotation,” said an employee of the NDMC.Senior government officials have also expressed their concern over the violation of protocol in departments where positive cases were found.

“It may lead to a severe crisis. It is not safe to visit some offices like divisional commissioner office and some district magistrate’s office because of positive cases. I have seen people maintaining no social distancing,” said an official.

However, authorities continue to assure that the situation is under control. “We are taking all the precautions issued by the government, all the floors are sanitized thrice daily, thermal scanning is also conducted the entrance,” said an NDMC official.

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