Two Nigerians and another foreign national, who were detained at Badarpur railway station in Assam’s Karimganj district on Saturday night, have been sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital, after screening for coronavirus symptoms at the civil hospital. They will be kept in isolation for 14 days, officials said.
In Hailakandi district, 155 people are in home isolation.
Government sources said 86 surveillance teams, ASHA workers and supervisors have fanned out across the district to visit the homes of people who have come from outside the state. The district administration has screened 532 people in the last four days, who came by buses and trains from outside.
Hailakandi joint director of health services Dr Ramesh Chandra Dwivedy said nine persons, suspected to have returned from Covid-19-affected states, but all asymptomatic, have been screened.
An undertaking has been obtained from those coming from other states and abroad that they would not step out of their homes and maintain a safe distance from family members, failing which legal action would be initiated. “Since the virus spreads through physical contact, social distancing is an effective measure to contain its spread. All those who have been advised to stay in home quarantine or isolation, I fervently appeal to you to follow the instructions. This will protect you, your near and dear ones and friends,” Dwivedy said.
Additional deputy commissioner E.L. Faihraen said it would take stern action against people coming from outside who have not voluntarily reported to the nearest health centre or police station, under Section 270 of the IPC and other provisions of The Assam Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, for concealing information.
A press statement said the administration has prohibited large public gatherings and individuals and groups from entering hospitals without emergency as well as restricted timings of weekly markets from 9am to noon.
The administration has urged traders not to hoard essential items and people to purchase only necessary things.
In Silchar, the district headquarters of Cachar, 52 people have been quarantined, 49 at home and three at National Institute of Technology, according to government sources.
Cachar deputy commissioner Barnali Sharma in an order said all shopping malls in Silchar will remain close from Monday and all business establishments closed on Monday and Tuesday.
The Kanchakanti temple at Udharbond has been also closed for visitors.
The people of Hailakandi on Sunday observed the Janata Curfew in totality as this town and other parts of the district wore a deserted look with commercial establishments and markets closed, except those dealing in essential items.
All modes of transport remained off the roads.
At 5pm, people came out on their verandahs and windows and blew conches, clapped and clanged utensils to express their indebtedness to those working round-the-clock.
Former minister and BJP leader Gautam Roy performed a yagna at his residence for the welfare of all the people and to eliminate the coronavirus threat.
Hailakandi deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli said, “Social distancing is the key to breaking the chain of infection. I appeal to the people once again to remain indoors and to follow the self-imposed curfew for sometime to prevent the spread of the virus.”