by our special correspondent
The point from where Bsngladeshi truck drivers snd helpers make way to Petrapole landport is still a black hole in covid security.As Desher Samay reported earlier that Bsngladesh government had set up a facility to scan the drivers snd helpers from Indian side there is nothing as such in Indian soil. As a result the zone remains a grey area for covid transmission.
India on Monday stepped up tougher border control measures to combat the Covid-19 outbreak as the number of patients is rising mostly from travel history to affected countries.
The fresh restrictions both for outbound and inbound travel now include major European countries including France, Spain and Germany.The government strategy at containment is now veering towards border controls as several other countries have also rolled out travel curbs to and from Covid-19 affected countries.
The fresh advisory issued after a review meeting by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba underlines the fact that the Covid-19 infection has now spread to as many as 100 countries and travellers to these countries, or any person having travelled abroad, might possibly have come in contact with people affected with Covid-19 during their stay there or even while in transit at airports.
An advisory has been issued for all incoming international passengers returning to India to self-monitor their health and follow the recommended “DOs and DON’Ts”.
The advisory also calls for passengers with travel history to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain and Germany to undergo self-imposed quarantine for a period of 14 days from the date of their arrival, and their employers to facilitate work-from-home for such employees during this period.
Further, in continuation of already issued advisories on travel to India citizens, India citizens are strongly advised to refrain from travelling to France, Spain and Germany.
Besides the already issued instructions, all regular Visas (including e-Visas) which have been granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain on or before March 11 and where these foreigners have not yet entered India stands suspended. Regular visas (including e-Visas) granted to all foreign nationals who have travel history to these countries on or after February 1 and who have not yet entered India also stands suspended.
In addition, the government also has announced strict guidelines for international cruise ships to call on an Indian port to curb Covid-19 outbreak.
The advisory follows several cruise ships like Diamond Princess which became infestations of the virus and are stuck at the ports.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) has been put in place with immediate effect for international cruise ships.
Cruise ships which had intimated their call to Indian port prior to January 1 will be allowed. Any ship, crew or passenger which has a history of visiting a Covid-19 affected country since February 1 will not be permitted to enter any Indian port till March 31.
The cruise ships will be allowed on ports having thermal screening facility for passengers and crew. If any passengers or crew show symptoms of the disease, they will not be allowed to disembark. The passenger will be quarantined on the ship. If the samples are found to be positive, the passenger will be shifted to an isolation facility attached to the port and the ship be asked to move out.
Kartik Chakrabarty, secretary of the clearing agents welfare assoviation however is of opinion that government should setup precationary arrangement in Indian side than to stop trade. He said ” If China can withstand trading being in epicentre of the outbreak then there is hardly any reason to stop tade between India and Bangladesh. With little medical facility this can be easily done,”he added.
Picture by – Partha Sarathi Nandi
