57 women and girls at Kanpur’s government-run shelter home have tested positive for coronavirus, reported India Today.
Out of this, 5 were found to be pregnant, 2 of whom were minors.
1 other girl is HIV positive.
The chain started last week when one of the staff members from the shelter tested positive for coronavirus. Soon, more tests were conducted and the results are unfortunate.
All the women undergoing treatment at various hospitals across Kanpur right now.
Speaking to India Today on the matter, Kanpur DM Brahmdev Tiwari said:
57 girls have tested positive for Covid-19, which includes five girls found to be pregnant. This includes two minors and one HIV positive patient. They were sent by the Child Welfare Committees from Agra, Etah, Kannauj, Firozabad, Kanpur and were pregnant before they came to the shelter home. These are the cases under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences [POCSO] Act. Two other girls who were tested negative are also pregnant. They were also sent by the CWC team of Kanpur.
2 other pregnant girls tested negative for the virus.
According to The Print, the UP Women’s Commission member Poonam Kapoor said that the infection might have spread after a staff member visited Kanpur’s Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital/GSVM Medical College.
There has also been some allegations against the shelter home regarding the pregnancies, but the authorities have confirmed that the girls were pregnant before they were brought there. In that regard, Poonam noted:
No males are allowed to enter the shelter. Such matters shouldn’t be twisted — the girls were already pregnant.