Prayagraj: Coronavirus prank calls to 112 keep cops on toes

PRAYAGRAJ: Hoax calls to UP 112 about Chinese nationals with Covid-19 symptoms roaming city streets have left the men in khaki flummoxed amid a global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (nCoV), which has affected more than 90,000 people worldwide and killed nearly 3,000.
SSP Satyarth Anirudh Pankaj told TOI that an unidentified caller from Prayagraj dialled the police helpline on Monday night and made the serious claim.
“The caller demanded immediate action to stem a possible contagion in the city. However, when cops tried calling him back to know the location where he had seen this purported Chinese national with coronovirus symptoms, they found his mobile switched off,” the SSP said, adding that the unidentified caller could not be reached till Tuesday evening.
As if prank calls weren’t enough, policemen taking 112 calls are swamped with queries ranging from precautionary measures to number of cases and quarantine facilities in UP.
According to district health data released on Tuesday, a total of 55 passengers had returned to the city from China, Hongkong, Thailand and neighbouring Asian countries since December 29. As many as 23 fliers were placed under observation of Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP) teams for 28 days each.
District epidemiologist Dr Anshu Vaish told TOI that the health department was maintaining a database of travellers arriving in the city from countries affected by the coronavirus.
“While 32 were released after observation for 28 days, the remaining of the 23 passengers were isolated at their homes. An ambulance is on standby at Bamrauli airport to rush passengers exhibiting symptoms to special facilities,” Dr Vaish said.
Isolation wards have been set up at Motilal Nehru Medical College and Colvin Hospital here.