Patna: DM orders compulsory screening of migrants

Debashish Karmakar | TNN | Updated: Apr 6, 2020, 08:21 IST

DM Kumar Ravi

PATNA: DM Kumar Ravi on Sunday ordered for compulsory medical screening of around 1500 migrant workers for Covid-19. They have reached Patna from outside the state on or after March 29.
He also issued orders that migrant workers who reached Patna between March 22 and 28 from places like Mumbai, Pune and Kerala would have to undergo compulsory medical test for coronavirus.
When asked, he said the screening procedures started on Sunday itself. “The administration has a list of around 1500 migrant workers who are presently staying in Patna after reaching here on or after March 29. Besides the administration also has a list of altogether 3,996 such workers who came here between March 22 and 28,” he said.
Ravi said the test for Covid-19 would be conducted on those migrant workers who would show any kind of symptom during screening. “This is also the ICMR guideline that test would be conducted only in case of any symptom is found after medical screening,” he said.
Besides, the DM also said directives had been issued to the drug controller for serving notices on all those wholesale drugstores in the district who have kept their shops shut after the lockdown. “Such shops can’t be kept shut. They fall under the category of essential services. They have to remain open,” Ravi said.
He said the order to serve notices was given after a late evening district level meeting with health department officers and members of chemists and druggists association on Saturday. “The association members were urged to take steps for home delivery of medicines for pregnant women, senior citizens and children if they have less staff and are unable to cater to every customer. Bigger stores have agreed to supply medicines in their surrounding areas,” Ravi said.
He said the association members complained that some people were trying to hoard medicines amid lockdown. “They were asked to provide medicines for a month as things would normalize within fortnight. The administration would issue orders for it, if it is felt necessary,” he added.