COVID-19: Inter-state border screening non-existent, barring south
Public transport provides an ideal setting for the rapid spread of respiratory pathogens like coronavirus, and the situation can become particularly alarming in India, the world’s second most populous country, if inter-state movement of people continues unrestricted.
Public transport provides an ideal setting for the rapid spread of respiratory pathogens like coronavirus, and the situation can become particularly alarming in India, the world’s second most populous country, if inter-state movement of people continues unrestricted.
Barring Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, no screening is being done now at the inter-state border check posts in the rest of the country. Currently, screening is only confined to airports for international passengers.
This may well turn out to be a major lacuna in the fight against the COVID-19 despite the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)’s claim that there is no indication of community transmission of the disease in India so far.
Kerala has been swiftly acting to check the spread of the virus through a series of moves including beefing up screening of people on trains and at inter-state borders.
Going a step further, Punjab has announced suspension of public transport services from Friday (March 20) midnight, besides restricting public gatherings to less than 20 in the state. Public buses, tempos and auto rickshaws will also be off the roads in the state.
Kerala’s pro-active moves
Kerala, which has recorded 26 coronavirus cases, has intensified medical check-up at border areas for people entering the state by rail and road.
The state government has identified 24 border areas that Kerala share with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and multiple teams, each headed by a deputy superintendent of police, are checking vehicles entering the state. These teams will monitor each and every vehicle and record temperature of the passengers, besides other details like travel history.
Similar teams have also been deputed to monitor passengers at railway stations near the state borders. They have been carrying out thermal screening of passengers in trains passing through the state and at major railway stations. Railway and health officials in the state, including doctors, are part of the teams engaged in the thermal screening.
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Disinfectants are also being sprayed on the exterior and interiors of all coaches of the trains, and audio announcements and videos are being played on regular basis at stations to create awareness about precautionary measures against the COVID-19.
Kerala has been hit by a second round of COVID-19 cases after the country’s first three positive cases in the state were successfully cured and discharged last month.
Telangana on alert
With the rise in number of coronavirus cases in neighbouring Maharashtra, Telangana has set up check posts at four areas along the state border to conduct screening of those entering the state by road.
The check posts have been set up at Zahirabad, Dharmabad, Boraj and Sirpur Kaghaznagar. “Thermal scanners will be deployed at these places to screen the inbound traffic,” said State Health Minister E Rajender.
Meanwhile, parts of Telangana’s Karimnagar town have been cordoned off and authorities have sounded a high alert after eight Indonesian citizens who had come to the town on a religious trip, tested positive for the coronavirus.
Officials said the Indonesian visitors, who were accompanied by three Indians, stayed for two days at a local mosque, before the first patient reported symptoms of coronavirus and was hospitalised on March 17.
The state health department has rolled out a cluster containment plan by deploying 100 medical teams to screen people in the area where the Indonesian citizens stayed for two days. The teams will go door to door and screen people for suspected symptoms of COVID-19.
Police personnel were deployed to cordon the area near where the group stayed. Shops and business establishments were closed and the district administration imposed orders prohibiting assembly of five or more persons.
A road near the District Collector’s office was also sealed. Officials also took steps to identify all those who came into contact with the infected Indonesians and analysed CCTV footage to identify places the Indonesians had visited.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra, which witnessed a steady rise in the number of coronavirus cases, is reportedly considering drastic measures like complete suspension of local suburban train and buses services in big cities like Mumbai. The proposal is believed to be under consideration.
The state government is also planning to ask 50% of its employees to work from home in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
State health officials have been pushing for a shutdown in Maharashtra. Financial capital Mumbai will come to a grinding halt in the event of a total shutdown of BEST bus services and the suburban train services.
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Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has warned stoppage of train services would become inevitable if people did not cooperate with the authorities and avoid unnecessary travel.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring Karnataka has placed its border districts, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Chamarajnagar and Mysuru, under coronavirus surveillance.
Railways cancel trains
Meanwhile, the Indian Railways has cancelled 76 trains in a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus. It has also issued a set of guidelines to zonal railways for its catering staff, stating that no employee having fever, cough or difficulty in breathing should join duty.
According to officials, Central Railways has cancelled 23 trains, South Central Railways cancelled 29 trains and 10 trains were cancelled in Western Railway Zone, nine in South Eastern Railway Zone and five in Northern Railway Zone.
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