‘Aggressive contact tracing helps identify more positive cases’

According to Corporation health workers, more cases are likely as they do aggressive contact tracing.

“The first was a woman, a hospital staffer, who got the infection from a healthcare worker working in the same hospital.

After she was tested positive, her neighbours and family members were tested. Of about 30 samples, 11 were positive.

More positive cases are expected through this source. Around 100 houses are under that containment zone,” said a senior official.

Every time when a person tests positive, her contacts are traced by the Corporation and police officials. The tracing happens at two level: close contacts, including family, and extended contacts like neighbours and even their contacts. “We also investigate whether she has met anyone during the period and track their contacts, too,” said a senior Corporation official.

The Ambattur zone that had no positive case recorded 13 cases on Monday.

“The first was a vegetable vendor from Koyambedu market, a resident of Padi Kuppam. Then, 31 samples were taken from his family members and neighbours, of which 13 tested positive.

Results of eight more are awaited,” said an official from the zone. With 158 cases, Royapuram zone has the highest number in the city. There are 40 streets under containment zone. Officials added that despite aggressive contact tracing, some misses are bound to happen. “For instance, the patient might have forgotten details of all whom she had met. Sometimes, they might deliberately hide,” an official said.

Recently,  after a person working at butcher shop in Royapuram tested positive, his family members,

neighbours and all who visited his shop were screened – 48 in all – of which one turned positive, said a senior official from the zone.

“The only way to find out for sure is keep tracking contacts and testing them. It is the reason Chennai records more cases every day.”