The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has closed its office at the Feroze Shah Kotla campus until further notice on Monday (September 7) after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 and came to work without a negative test for the deadly virus.
In the absence of the chairman and secretary, DDCA joint secretary Rajan Manchanda, the only active officer, has confirmed the Coronavirus outbreak at the office on Monday and also directed Kotla to be closed until further notice.
He instructed many DDCA employees to undergo isolation and identify the people in contact with the Coronavirus infected staffer, as well as, made it clear that no employee should rejoin work without a COVID-19 negative certificate.
Read Also: IPL 2020: Assistant physio of Delhi Capitals tests COVID-19 positive
Mr. Manchanda confirmed the same by saying, “Today there were tests organized for 98 people out which one employee who is in the electrical department tested positive. DDCA is closed until further notice as the tested person was in touch with the other officials.”
He also wrote an e-mail, instructing administration manager Neeraj Sharma, which reads: “It has come to my notice that there has been a COVID-19 positive case in DDCA today. Please shut down the club with immediate effect till further orders and please ensure sanitization of the entire club premises as soon as possible.”
It further reads: “There was an official order stating whosoever takes sick leaves related to the symptoms of COVID shall not rejoin duty without getting COVID test. However, Mr........(name withheld) joined duty without any COVID negative report. Please seek answers from him regarding this immediately. Office orders need to be followed strictly. There is no room for carelessness at the moment.”
Meanwhile, DDCA Director Sanjay Bhardwaj said the office will remain shut for seven days and staff will undergo another round of COVID-19 tests before work begins at Kotla, Delhi.
Bhardwaj further noted: “We had conducted COVID-19 tests in the DDCA office and while one of the employees had a negative report initially, he tested positive when checked today. All the other reports came negative. We don’t wish to take any chance and that is why the DDCA will be shut for seven days and there will be another round of tests before work begins. Health and safety is a priority and there is no question of taking a risk in such a scenario.”
While Manchanda signed off by saying, “Right now, it would be risky to open the Kotla. The office was open but now we have to shut down everything and once everyone has completed their isolation period, we will consider reopening. We can't take risks.”
(With PTI/ANI Inputs)
