GANGTOK, July 6 - As per official information from the DG-cum-Health Secretary, Dr Pempa T Bhutia, the driver who tested Covid-19 positive on July 5 had been engaged in ferrying returnees from the screening centre at Rangpo to the designated quarantine centres in East District. He, along with 13 other drivers (non-SNT) had been hired by the administration on a fixed rate basis exclusively for this purpose. They were kept in a designated hotel (transit camp) in Rangpo since the time they were hired.
The driver who tested positive had ferried returnees staying at the Himalayan Pharmacy Institute Boys� Hostel and who had tested positive on July 3.
Speaking about the status of the 20 SSB jawans who had tested positive on July 5, the DG-cum-Health Secretary informed that out of a total of 64 jawans, 20 had tested positive, while the remaining 44 had tested negative. However, they will again undergo a confirmatory test after 7 days. Till then, they will continue to be lodged in the quarantine centre.
Another person who had tested positive on July 5 was a Delhi returnee who had travelled along with 11 other persons and was lodged in a paid quarantine centre in Gangtok. Four other persons had also shared the same hotel.