217 inmates of orphanage test Covid +ve in Pathanamthitta

Representative image | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Representative image | Photo: Mathrubhumi

Mallappally (Pathanamthitta): The 217 inmates of Shalom Karunya Bhavan Charitable Trust in Nellimoodu here have tested positive for Covid. There is no staff to cook and care for the inmates as 30 employees of the orphanage returned to their houses after testing positive. Managing trustee Eepan Cheriyan has requested fundamental aid during this crisis.

Shalom Karunya Bhavan Charitable Trust is an orphanage for the mentally challenged. All inmates had received both doses of the Covid vaccine last month but were still infected. One of the inmates had been taken to Taluk Headquarters Hospital in Mallappally. Although the Covid test was done as a part of the checkup, the result was negative. But after two days, the inmate developed fever and turned positive.

The matter was informed to the health department, social justice department and the panchayat. Following this, health inspectors arrived and conducted a mass Covid testing drive in which most of the inmates tested positive. The trustee said that all the inmates have turned Covid positive. 

Staple food items are in stock, but there is no one to prepare food and clean afterwards. The panchayat authorities informed that food cannot be delivered since there is no lockdown, said the trustee who is living with the inmates even after testing positive. They are in the hope that the concerned departments of the government or other organisations will deliver food for them.

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