HYDERABAD: Even before the dust on Tablighi Jamaat attendees could settle down, 41,000 migrant workers, who have returned recently, are giving fresh jitters to Telangana now. After a fairly lean run till last week, Telangana has been witnessing a big surge in the last 3-4 days in Covid-19 positive cases, a fact borne by 21 migrant labourers testing positive till Tuesday.
The government is worried over the spike in the numbers in the coming days. Senior officials said the government’s main worry is that many districts, which had zero Covid-19 cases for over a month, are likely to become ‘hotspots’ for the coronavirus cases.
An official said it had become a herculean task for the government to keep tabs on migrant workers, as some of them have reached villages by walking or using personal vehicles. Of the 41,000 who had returned, about 30,000 had come from Maharashtra alone, which is the hotbed for Covid-19 cases in the country. Sources said the government is worried about a sharp spike in Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Adilabad, Mahbubnagar and Warangal districts.
Tests ramped up as migrant workers return
Wasting no time, the government has asked sarpanches and villagers to identify the returned workers and inform the authorities immediately. “Migrant workers are coming back in a large number, which is definitely a major concern for us. We are testing asymptomatic and highrisk contacts of confirmed cases,” health minister Eatala Rajender told TOI on Wednesday.
He said they were being identified at various levels and placed under home quarantine. “As per guidelines of ICMR, we will tests those having symptoms and treat the positive cases.”
He, however, ruled out indiscriminate testing. A senior health department official said that apart from these migrant workers, about 700 people have arrived in Hyderabad from various countries. “We put them in various hotels. More people will land here once domestic flights resume,” he said.
Officials said six districts had not reported any fresh positive cases for over 40 days. Bhadradri did not have fresh cases for past 50 days, Siddipet 43 days, Mulugu 42, Nagarkurnool and Mahabubabad 41 days and Peddapalli in the last 40 days.
The government is worried over the spike in the numbers in the coming days. Senior officials said the government’s main worry is that many districts, which had zero Covid-19 cases for over a month, are likely to become ‘hotspots’ for the coronavirus cases.
An official said it had become a herculean task for the government to keep tabs on migrant workers, as some of them have reached villages by walking or using personal vehicles. Of the 41,000 who had returned, about 30,000 had come from Maharashtra alone, which is the hotbed for Covid-19 cases in the country. Sources said the government is worried about a sharp spike in Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Jagtial, Adilabad, Mahbubnagar and Warangal districts.
Tests ramped up as migrant workers return
Wasting no time, the government has asked sarpanches and villagers to identify the returned workers and inform the authorities immediately. “Migrant workers are coming back in a large number, which is definitely a major concern for us. We are testing asymptomatic and highrisk contacts of confirmed cases,” health minister Eatala Rajender told TOI on Wednesday.
He said they were being identified at various levels and placed under home quarantine. “As per guidelines of ICMR, we will tests those having symptoms and treat the positive cases.”
He, however, ruled out indiscriminate testing. A senior health department official said that apart from these migrant workers, about 700 people have arrived in Hyderabad from various countries. “We put them in various hotels. More people will land here once domestic flights resume,” he said.
Officials said six districts had not reported any fresh positive cases for over 40 days. Bhadradri did not have fresh cases for past 50 days, Siddipet 43 days, Mulugu 42, Nagarkurnool and Mahabubabad 41 days and Peddapalli in the last 40 days.
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