Ensure testing of UK returnees, civil surgeons told

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24:

The Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Thursday directed all civil surgeons to ensure tracing, surveillance and testing of International passengers who have arrived from the UK within two days.

Sidhu said the list of 1,822 international passengers who arrived from the UK at the Delhi airport and then travelled to Punjab had been received and shared with all districts. “As many as 1,550 UK passengers have arrived at Shri Guru Ramdas Airport, Amritsar, but details of only 709 passengers have been received so far. The details of the remaining passengers is awaited for further action,” he said.

He said of 262 travellers who arrived from the UK between December 21 and 23 had been kept under observation and eight of them tested Covid-positive. “They have been admitted to Fortis Hospital, Amritsar. Their samples will be sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune,” said the minister.

He said 216 contacts of passengers who arrived from UK had also been also identified and traced and were being put under quarantine. “Tracing of the remaining contacts was being carried out on a war footing, so as to ensure people’s safety. Civil surgeons have also been instructed to submit the report of all passengers to the state headquarters by December 27. Instructions have been issued to all deputy commissioners and civil surgeons regarding surveillance and testing of passengers travelling from or transiting through the UK,” he added.