Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): It was an emotional moment at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) hospital in Srinagar today, when two siblings– Kashmir’s youngest coronavirus victims aged four and seven– were ready to return home after completing 14-day mandatory quarantine period.
Their samples were taken thrice and they tested negative every time. Their mother, who was tested negative, chose to stay with her two daughters for all 14 days and boosted their morale to fight the disease.
When the two kids turned up to leave for their home at the hospital today, doctors and para-medical staff, some with teary eyes, presented bouquets to them amid prayers- “may you live long.”
The children, who reside in a posh Srinagar locality, were tested positive on March 26, after coming in contact with their grandfather, who had a travel history to Saudi Arabia. Their grandfather had travelled in the same flight in which first Covid-19 positive case of Srinagar was on board from Delhi to Srinagar on March 16.
Deputy Medical Superintendent, JLNM hospital, Dr Tabasum told NVI that after testing positive, the samples of siblings were taken thrice. “And thank God, they tested negative every time. We wanted to be doubly sure that these young victims of Covid are negative,” she said.
She said that despite being negative herself, the mother of two minors spent all 14 days with her kids.
“We had kept these small kids in a separate room where they completed their quarantine period. Their mother used protective gear while being with her children. She didn’t go home for all these days,” the doctor said.
Doctors at the hospital said that they were so happy to bid a see-off to the two little siblings. “It was our treatment and their mother’s love and affection that paid in the end. There were tears in the eyes of female medical staff while saying good-bye to the siblings. They have been advised to stay in home quarantine so that they could stay away from the pandemic,” a doctor at the hospital said.
As the siblings were discharged, J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal tweeted: “Great News…Mubarak to the families and gratitude to the entire medical team”. Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary also tweeted: “I take a humble bow in respect of doctors at JLNM hospital and for resilience of a brave mother as two kids who had earlier tested positive are discharged after repeated samples testing negative. Congratulations!”
