Following a number of people having travel history to Kolkata testing positive for COVID-19 in the coastal districts of the State, the people in Kendrapada district are in panic as hundreds of migrant labourers have returned to the district from West Bengal.
These labourers mainly came to Rajnagar and Mahakalapada blocks of the district from Kolkata after the lockdown was enforced. Besides, most of the fishermen of the district transport fish to West Bengal whereas several fishermen families of Mahakalapada and Rajnagar blocks have their house in West Bengal too. They travel to Kolkata and return via sea route often.
Sources Rs said several persons have arranged private ambulances and arrived in Kendrapada and other districts from West Bengal by giving a slip to police.
“As many as 730 people have returned to the district from Kolkata in last one month during the lockdown period and all of them werekept in home quarantine and asked to follow the regulations strictly,” said district Collector Samarth Verma. .
Beside, the district administration has intensified patrolling and also restricted marine fishing activities since last three days to ensure that people from Kolkota would not infiltrate into the district via sea route, added Verma.
The local PRI members, local ASHA and Anganwadi Workers have been instructed to collect information related to Kolkota returnees and to take steps to keep them on home quarantine.
ADMO (PH) Dr Mirza Babar Beig said within last two days the Health Department has collected and sent 97 swab samples of Kolkata returnees for tests.