Divulge details about foreign travel history, admin tells people
Jammu: The J&K government has urged people to voluntarily report to authorities if they have a recent travel history to coronavirus-hit countries amid heightened concerns that those returning from abroad were evading screening and raising the possibility of the spread of the virus.
Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said authorities were flooded with messages about travellers concealing their travel history, and urged them to “act responsibly” to break the chain of transmission.
He said authorities were concerned as the travellers would have mingled with the local population.
The government appealed to students, particularly, who have not declared their travel history and asked family members, neighbours to report such cases through helpline numbers 0191-2549676 at UT level, 0191-2520982, 2674444, 2674115 (Jammu division) and 0194-2440283, 2430581.
“Trust me if I share a summary of daily events NONE in Kashmir will sleep. Let’s keep our egos aside, work collectively and instead of raising panic and alarm help each other to improve. This 3rd World War. Nothing less. If it passes we will have a Lifetime for all that,” the senior official warned.
He said surveillance teams were able to track 29 people coming from Bangkok, the UK, Dubai, Bangladesh and Kazakhstan, who skipped medical teams by changing routes or avoiding travel history.
In another tweet, Choudhary said, “Two brothers. Same Medical College in Bangladesh. One travels by air, declares travel history lands in Quarantine. Other takes road goes home, probably enjoyed Wazwan. Smart neighbour informs Control Room. Team got in touch. Symptomatic. WHO guidelines lecture please?”
“A girl coming from US posed as Student returning from Bangladesh. A ‘thick skinned babu’ (as we are called) insisted on passport while allotting room, got to know. USA 3rd highest COVID cases in the world. I need to attend another lecture on WHO guidelines now!!,” he said.
He cited another case of a man trying to evade the coronavirus protocol, saying a gentleman coming from Italy reached New Delhi via another port.
“Takes train to Jammu n Cab to home in #Srinagar. Just to hide travel history. Traced. Need collective focus to handle it. Things are not that simple as they appear from homes & office rooms. WHO guidelines anyone?” he tweeted.
He appealed to the people to stay indoors during the lockdown period so as to break the chain of transmission of the virus.
“For heaven’s sake stay at homes and report to designated hospitals if you have symptoms/travel history. Consult on phone before visiting hospital. Please. Spread the word,” he added.
Eight persons have so far tested positive for the coronavirus in the Kashmir valley.
The first COVID-19 patient, a woman, is recovering fast and is likely to be discharged soon from the hospital, officials said here.
The deputy commissioner said there are more than 1,700 persons at various quarantine facilities in the city who had returned from various countries during the past week.
“With last 2 flights coming in late evening (on Tuesday), we have 1741 guests at Srinagar quarantine facilities. Teams from health, essential services, magistrates, police, SMC and others/nodal officers taking care. Family members requested not to throng there,” he said in another tweet. (PTI)
Press Trust of India
