A Supreme Court Judge and his family were advised by health officials to undergo precautionary self- quarantine after one of his residential staff tested positive for coronavirus.
Reportedly, the cook was on leave since 7th May 2020 and was tested positive on Friday, 15th May 2020, after returning to work. The cook complained of mild fever and body ache and was referred to the hospital thereafter.
It is unclear whether the cook was asymptomatic while working prior to 7th May 2020 or whether he caught the virus after attending the function held at his daughter’s place. The contact- tracing of the cook is being carried out by health officials.
An unidentified source said, “The cook has taken leave to attend some function at his daughter’s place. He had been absent from the judge’s residence since 7th May 2020. Today his son called up the judge’s residence and reported that his father has been admitted to hospital and that he has been found COVID-19 positive.”
The Judge and his family have been advised to stay under quarantine for the next 10 days as a precautionary measure even though there has been no contact of the family with the cook for the last seven days. The Judge said, “I am fine. I and my family will self- quarantine ourselves for the next week or so and will scrupulously abide by the medical advice.”
Furthermore, the Delhi police armed personnel and guards who provided security to the judge and his family are also required to self-quarantine themselves as they also run a risk to contract the virus after being in contact with the residential cook.
There have also been two suspected cases of Coronavirus so far found in the Supreme Court. One of the suspected Supreme Court employees has tested negative now whereas, another one’s grandmother succumbed to co-morbidities after getting infected with the virus. Five members of his family have also been tested positive earlier. Later, few security personnel of Delhi Police deployed in Supreme Court were also quarantined.
Supreme Court judges resumed hearings in Courtroom from Tuesday, 12th May 2020 via video- conferencing from home amid the nationwide COVID- 19 lockdown.
The official notification issued on Wednesday, 13th May 2020 stated, “As a precautionary measure to contain spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection under the prevailing conditions, the Competent Authority has been pleased to direct that the advocates may wear "plain white- shirt/ white- salwar- kameez/ white saree, with a plain- white neckband" during the hearings before the Supreme Court of India through Virtual Court System till medical exigencies exist or until further orders,”
Coronavirus update: Total cases of coronavirus positive patients have reached 85,692. Total cases recovered 27,920 while, 2,783 have succumbed to death.
Total cases of positive coronavirus patients in Delhi have reached 8470. Total recovered are 3045 while 115 have deceased.
