Varanasi, May 1 (IANS): A wholesaler in the Saptsagar medicine market in Varanasi has ended up infecting 11 people with coronavirus.

The wholesaler had tested positive for the dreaded virus on April 25, and has spread the infection to 11 others.

"An FIR had been lodged against the medicine wholesaler at the Manduadih police station under Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 and 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on Tuesday.

"After people in his contact were screened and their samples were collected and sent for test, four of his family members, three employees and one customer tested positive for Covid-19. On Thursday, three more of his contacts, including two owners of neighboring shops at the Saptsagar market, and one more employee were found positive," said District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma.

He said the reports sent by Banaras Hindu University (BHU) showed that the number of people infected by the wholesaler has reached 11.

The health teams had collected samples of over 100 persons who came in contact with the wholesaler. Officials are apprehensive about the possibility of more people among his contacts testing positive.

The FIR was lodged against the medicine trader after collection of proper evidence, including video clips he had himself posted on social media. In the videos, he was seen distributing packed drinks to home guards and police personnel at many crossings in the city without wearing mask or gloves.

The trader also had foreign travel history as he had returned from a trip to Europe.

Because of the trader and the persons infected after coming in his contact, Madauli, Saptsagar, Mahmoorganj, Pahadia, Maidagin and Chhoti Piyari have now been added to the list of 17 hotspots in the city.

Besides, as many as eight cops of Sigra police station form the bulk of Covid-19 positive patients in Varanasi.