KALABURAGI: Four family members of India’s first coronavirus victim, who succumbed on Wednesday, have been quarantined at Kalaburagi’ ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) hospital after they developed flue like symptoms on Friday. The administration has now sent test samples to Bengaluru.

Among 46 who had come into direct contact with the 76-year-old victim, 31 are categorised as high risk, while 15 as low risk. All are shifted from home isolation to quarantine wards at the ESI. The test samples of four have been sent to the laboratory at Bengaluru. With these developments, Kalaburagi district administration has started to take ample measures to check further spread of the outbreak. Among four coronavirus suspects, 3 have developed cough and one cold. The test samples will reach Bengaluru at 2pm.

The deputy commissioner (DC) of Kalaburagi, Sharath B, in an emergency press briefing said that malls, theatres and schools have been ordered to shut for a week’s span with immediate effect, exceptions have been given to classes taking exams. Restrictions have been clamped on conducting events hosting large gatherings. “A popular religious fair (Sharanabasaveswara) is slated to be held on Friday. However, we have requested fair authorities to make it a low-key event. We have deployed health staff at all taluk border check posts and those who will be found travelling to fair will be sent back.”

DC said that ward no 30 in Kalaburagi Municipal Council, where the coronavirus victim lived, has been declared as containment area for intense monitoring. He said that all the adequate health staffs have been deployed at border check posts to run health surveillance. The administration has also opened 200-bedded isolation ward at ESI hospital and all private hospitals and are instructed to report three times a day on health status of patients being admitted to hospital. He added that samples of the four suspected for coronavirus have been sent for testing. He also urged people not to panic.