States prepare plans for movement of migrants

New Delhi: Authorities across states on Thursday began preparations to help lakhs of migrant workers and students reach their homes from different parts of the country where they are stranded for over a month due to the COVID-19 lockdown, even as the deadly virus infection spread further to take the nationwide tally of positive cases to over 33,600 and the death toll neared 1,100.

The Union Home Ministry, however, said the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients has also improved to nearly 25.2 per cent, from about 13 per cent a fortnight ago.

In its evening update, the Union Health Ministry said 1,075 people have died due to COVID-19 so far across the country after 67 deaths were reported since Wednesday evening. The number of cases has increased to 33,610, including 1,823 new cases detected in the last 24 hours. However, a PTI tally of the death toll reported by various states and Union territories, as of 6.45 pm, showed at least 1,093 people have lost their lives.

Several states announced steps they were taking for facilitating the movement of migrant workers and students. As per the Union Home Ministry order, buses would be used for transporting the stranded persons and these vehicles would be sanitised and will have to follow safe social distancing norms on seating. A senior official said all states and UTs will have to “strictly follow” these guidelines.

While the movement of trucks is already allowed for transportation of goods during the lockdown, the ministry separately clarified that no separate passes are required for their interstate movement, including for those carrying goods or returning after delivery, and licence of the driver is enough.

There have been reports that movement of trucks is not allowed freely and local authorities insist upon separate passes at interstate borders in different parts of the country