March 1, 2020 seared into memory: Delhi's first COVID-19 patient
It's a day most Delhiites would like to erase from their memories but March 1, 2020, the day the city reported its first COVID-19 case, is seared into Rohit Datta's memory. There's no erase button for the businessman, Delhi's first patient. From facing stigma after the diagnosis to becoming "Googleable" and popular on quizzing platforms, Datta says life has come a full circle.
Initially there was a lot of fear and guilt: Datta
"As I was the first case, initially there was a lot of fear and guilt too," Datta said. "I would consider myself as the carrier of the virus as I had just returned from Italy after a work-related visit and found myself positioned in a scenario where the unpredictability of this new virus fueled more fear and apprehensions among people," he said.
Datta developed a fever after returning from Italy
A resident of Mayur Vihar in east Delhi, Datta had flown in from Italy on February 25 last year and got a fever the same night. The next morning, he paid a visit to a local doctor and got some medicines, he recalled.
On February 28, 2020, Datta got a fever again
February 28, 2020, was his son's 12th birthday, and Datta hosted a small get-together at a luxury hotel in south Delhi. That night, he got a fever again. By February-end last year, the novel coronavirus had already wreaked havoc in China, where it was reported first globally in the city of Wuhan, and Italy too had been ravaged by it.
Datta was diagnosed with the COVID-19 infection on March 1
"I then decided to go to RML Hospital, and my samples were taken on February 29 for a COVID-19 test," Datta said. He was diagnosed with COVID -19 on March 1. From RML Hospital, he was sent to the isolation facility at the Safdarjung Hospital.
Datta spent 14 days at the isolation facility
"My test report had come positive on March 1, but I was told about it by doctors the next day, March 2," Datta said. "Initially, the plan was to keep me in isolation there for 28 days, but then it was revised to 14 days at the isolation facility and then 14 days of home isolation, where I fully recovered," he said.
I can never forget the date: Datta
Asked if these dates hold any significance for him, Datta, who had a quiet celebration on his son's 13th birthday this February 28, said, "March 1 is like an anniversary for me, and I can never forget it."
Delhi witnessed three major waves of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020
"After my case, Delhi saw a raging pandemic throughout the year, and mostly people would like to forget this period altogether, but these dates are seared into my memory now, forever, and in the minds of my family members," Datta added. Delhi saw three major waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the worst being the third one in November.
Highest single-day spike in Delhi was recorded on November 11
The highest single-day spike in Delhi till date - 8,593 cases - was reported on November 11, while on November 19, the city recorded 131 COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day fatality count till date.
Datta claims to have become more religious after his treatment
Always fascinated by leap years, Datta said, "February 29, 2020, is another unforgettable date for me." "My sample was taken on this date, and its anniversary will come after every four years now. It's quite amusing. Sometimes I feel I was chosen by fate to be in this position," Datta said, with a smile, adding that he has become "more religious" after his treatment.
Datta urged people to observe all COVID-19 safety norms
Datta reiterated his appeal to the masses to "not lower guard" even when the vaccination drive is underway and urged people to observe all COVID-19 safety norms. Asserting his faith in the doctors and the scientists of the country, Datta, who turned 46 on July 5 last year, said that he would wait for his turn to get the vaccine shot.
COVID-19 death toll in Delhi stands at 10,911
Datta said, "Quarantine is my favorite new word that is now a household term, like self-isolation and sanitization." Meanwhile, Delhi recorded 175 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (March 1), taking the city's infection tally to over 6.39 lakh, even as the positivity rate rose to 0.44 percent, according to the Health Department data. The death toll in the city stands at 10,911.
