Hubballi: COVID-19 patients' personal information leaked, DC orders probe
Hubballi: An essential component of COVID-19 patients’ rights is their privacy, which was violated in Dharwad district after their personal information was leaked on social media a day before the authorities had confirmed the case.
The details of two patients, including their names, addresses, mobile numbers, and age, were widely shared on WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms on Wednesday, even though the district administration confirmed the case only on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner Deepa Cholan had shot off a letter to the police commissioner, seeking the CDR (call detail record) of the two COVID-19 patients' mobile phones. The letter had also mentioned the personal details of the patients.
But this letter soon made its way to social media, and WhatsApp users kept sharing it without thinking about the privacy of the patients and their families.
Patients and their family members feel that they could face social hardships if their identity is made public. Therefore, the identity of such persons should not be revealed.
Taking the matter seriously, the deputy commissioner has instructed the Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner to investigate how the letter was leaked and take necessary action against the culprits.
"Details of the names and addresses of the individuals infected with the coronavirus have been unofficially shared on social networking sites on 22-04-2020. The district administration has taken the case seriously. Sharing this information on social media by civilians, and publishing it by media houses is a crime under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and COVID-19 Regulations, 2020," a statement from the district administration said.
"Deputy Commissioner Deepa Cholan has written to the Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner, instructing him to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against the violators," the statement read.
A neighbor of the 13-year-old COVID patient in Azad Colony, who was reluctant to disclose his name, said, "The girl had gone to her maternal uncle's house in Mulla Oni for vacation. After his uncle tested positive for the coronavirus, his entire family members, including the girl, were sent to a government quarantine center. After around 15 days, she tested positive today."
"Her identity should not have been leaked like this. Her father is a very soft-spoken person. Now everyone is looking at them with a different view. With this leak, everyone who knows him got to know that his daughter and relatives are infected," he added.
According to him, the patients' family members have decided to lodge a police complaint over the breach of privacy and against people who shared the information on social media.
Upset over the latest developments, the family was unavailable for comments when tried to contacted by a Vartha Bharati reporter.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
