A total of 2,209 travellers from Tripura, including 247 who came from Covid-19-affected countries, and 1,962 domestic passengers, have been kept under home quarantine, health secretary Dr Debasish Basu said on Thursday.

“So far, no positive case of Covid-19 has been reported in the state. A total of 42 travellers have been kept under institutional quarantine. We have already completed observation of 175 people,” he told reporters.

Basu said a meeting was held on Thursday at Maharajganj Bazar with the traders’ committee on the availability of essential commodities. “We have also deployed nodal officers in every market to ensure they have sufficient stock.”

Basu said special passes would be issued to all vendors, medical and grocery shops, signed by the sub-divisional magistrate. The director-general of police has assured to pass on the guidelines to the grassroots level.

Basu said 22 passengers, who were in the same flight with the Manipur girl who tested positive for novel coronavirus and deplaned in Agartala were tested as a safety measure and they were waiting for the results. “Eleven passengers who were in close proximity of the girl were also tested and all the reports came back negative,” he said.

After criticism from the public regarding police action on Wednesday on passersby, including market-goers, people going out to buy medicines and emergency supplies, among others, the situation was calm on Thursday.

“No force is used to shut medical stores and shops selling essential commodities are open,” Inspector-general of police G.S. Rao said. He said no untoward incident was reported on Thursday and force was used on those who could not provide a genuine reason for being out on the streets.

CPM leader and former MP Jitendra Choudhury criticised the police action as “whimsical” and “excessive”. “There must be a clear guideline. In the absence of such a guideline, there is so much confusion. But I feel people should not resume a normal lifestyle or there would no point of a lockdown.”

Senior Congress leader Tapas Dey said the police action was a result of “lack of coordination” between senior officers and junior policemen.

BJP spokesperson Ashok Sinha said he had taken up the issue with the state administration.

Tripura West MP Pratima Bhoumik on Thursday sanctioned Rs 50 lakh from her MPLAD fund for providing personal protective equipment (PPE) kit and sanitisers to healthcare workers.

Basu issued an order on Thursday that the request for curfew pass, giving personal details and purpose for travel, can be made through WhatsApp number and email address, to be notified by the district and subdivisional magistrates.