Mohalla Clinics, set up by the Delhi government, offer primary healthcare services (Representational)
Highlights
- Delhi mohalla clinic doctor infected with coronavirus
- Clinic visitors from March 12-18 on quarantine
- 5 new cases reported in Delhi in last 24 hours
A doctor at a mohalla (community) clinic in northeast Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus, health officials said on Wednesday. His wife and daughter, who were also found to be infected with coronavirus, have been admitted to a hospital.
Visitors who went to the clinic in Maujpur between March 12 and 18 have been asked to go on quarantine and contact a doctor if they experience COVID-19 symptoms.
It's not yet clear if the doctor had a history of foreign travel or came in contact with somebody who did.
Mohalla clinics are community health centres set up by the Delhi government that offer primary healthcare services.
They are meant for economically weaker sections of society so the spread of the COVID-19 infection in the community could have disastrous consequences.
Maujpur also happens to be one of the areas worst hit by the last month's violence and has people still trying to rebuild their lives.
Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said five new coronavirus cases were reported in the capital in the past 24 hours, pushing the number of total cases to 35.
Among the five new cases reported in the past 24 hours is a foreign national, Mr Kejriwal said.
Amid reports of police attacks on delivery executives of online retailers selling basic necessities, he said the government will begin issuing e-passes for them.
Mr Kejriwal said people ensuring essential services such as milk sellers, vegetable vendors and grocers can call helpline 1031 to get the passes on their mobile phones through WhatsApp.
Addressing a news conference with Lt Governor Anil Baijal, the chief minister said people can walk down to shops nearby to buy items of daily use, and they don't need any pass for it.
He also said landlords threatening doctors and nurses to move out, fearing spread of the contagious disease COVID-19, will face strict action.
Mr Kejriwal said his government has increased the number of spots across the city where free food for the poor will be made available.
"We have arranged for food for poor in our night shelters, free ration for 72 lakh beneficiaries, increased pension rates under widow, elderly and physically disabled schemes," he said.
"However, there are a lot of people who fall outside the ambit of many schemes. We know people are more in number. We are increasing the number of spots where free food is provided," he added.
On Wednesday, 90 new coronavirus cases were reported in India, pushing the total number of cases to 606, while the number of deaths was 10, according to the Union Health Ministry.