Rail Bhavan reports 4th coronavirus case in less than a week

A senior officer posted at the Rail Bhavan in Central Delhi has tested positive for coronavirus, the fourth case in less than a week at the railway headquarters.

The officer, who was diagnosed positive on Sunday, had last attended work on May 20. At least 14 officials who worked closely with her have been sent to home quarantine.

The latest case comes days after another senior officer working at the railways headquarters, also called Rail Bhavan, had tested positive for coronavirus, which was the third case from the building.

The officer was working on the cadre restructuring of the Railway Protection Force Service. She had last come to work on May 13.

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After May 13, the Rail Bhavan was shut for sanitisation purposes for two days as an RPF staffer had tested positive for the disease, officials said.

The railway officer stays at Commonwealth Games Village apartments, where many senior officers of the railways reside, they said.

The officials said that a joint secretary-level officer working closely with her has been sent to 14-day home quarantine, while some junior staffers have been asked to isolate themselves and rejoin office on June 4.

Sources said the officer is diabetic and had taken all precautions required to protect herself from coronavirus. However, she only has a mild fever and is under watch at home.

A junior staffer at the RPF office on the fourth floor of Rail Bhavan was the first to be infected with coronavirus in the building. This was followed by another case where a langur handler hired to chase away monkeys around the building had tested positive.

In the wake of these cases, the Railways had shut down the building for deep sanitisation on May 14 and 15.