Her name is Sarada Devi, and she has baffled medical workers in Rajasthan by testing positive at least 31 times in COVID-19 tests. The 35-year-old woman from Bharatpur in Rajasthan has continuously tested positive in 17 RT-PCT and 14 rapid antigen tests.
She was first tested on September 4 last year and the last known test which has come out positive was on 7th January this year. On none of the occasions has she ever tested negative in her tests.
This poses a unique challenge to the prevailing infection period for the novel coronavirus.
The COVID-19 recovery period depends on the severity of the illness. For mild cases, one can expect to recover within about two weeks. But for more severe cases, it could take six weeks or more, however, her infection has technically lasted for over 5 months while she still tests positive.
Contradicting current observations regarding COVID-19
Her results have been contradicting the novel Coronavirus’s incubation cycle which is believed to end in 14 days, officials said.
All her tests, including 17 RT-PCR and 14 rapid antigen tests, have come out positive, said the ashram officials where she has been staying. Her first test was conducted on September 4 and the last one on January 7.
Every time, she tests corona positive she leaves medical practitioners further confused.
The patient, Sarada Devi, has been residing in Bharatpur’s Apna Ashram since August last year. Being a new entrant to the ashram, she was tested for Covid as per the regular protocol of the ashram where she came out positive.
“Since then, she has been staying in isolation and has been given all three types of treatment namely allopathic, Homeopathic, and Ayurveda. However, despite all treatments, each time, her report comes positive.
Overall health has good and she’s even gained 7-8 Kg weight
“Surprisingly, despite having a positive Covid report, she is healthy and has gained around 7-8 kilo,” said Dr. B.M. Bhardwaj, from Ashram, adding that she was too weak and fragile when she had come here and could not even stand on her own.
“Although her present condition satisfy us as she is healthy, however, her Covid-19 status is at another level, and we are worried.”
“We have called Bharatpur Health officials and Sawai Man Singh Hospital, Jaipur, health officials too to take up her case and explain her reports,” he added.
Ashram officials said when she was brought in it was said that her mental and physical health is not too good. Since then, she has been staying here, however, following all medical protocols.
“She is still staying in isolation in the ashram as we need to care for other people staying in an ashram,” said an official.
Bhardwaj said that the doctors who visited here have opined that low immunity in Sharda Devi may be the reason that her tests are continuously coming positive.
Kaptan Singh, CMHO Bharatpur told IANS that the patient is now completely healthy and does not show any ILI symptoms.
“As per the rule, those showing no symptoms for COVID-19 for the last 10 days should be treated as normal,” he said adding that sometimes, the dead virus houses inside the stomach and intestine which brings in the positive report although the person at this time does not transmit the virus, he said adding that the patient has low immunity and that must be the reason she is showing positive report.”
