Covid-19: IMA for 72-hour isolation of visitors from 6 countries

PATNA: The state health department has suggested foreign tourists gathering at Bodh Gaya to listen to the religious discourse of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and the New Year revellers to maintain Covid guidelines. It, however, said there was nothing to panic.
According to information given by CM Nitish Kumar, one lakh pilgrims and tourists have already arrived in Bodh Gaya.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has warned against allowing those coming from six countries — China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand —mingle with the crowd without 72-hour isolation. Coincidentally, these are the countries which have considerable numbers of followers of Buddhism. “The health authorities should do intensive screening of visitors coming from six countries and isolate them to check the possible Covid spread,” IMA’s state president Dr D S Singh told TOI on Friday. “Last time the reason for Covid outbreak was that the government didn’t act fast to shut the airport and by the time it was shut, the virus had already spread in the community,” he added.
State IMA chief even advised the picnickers to better avoid celebrating New Year in public. “Those willing to celebrate must follow Covid guidelines,” Dr Singh said.
State health department secretary Pratyaya Amrit, however, said there was nothing to worry about as the government was ready to face any situation.
“Nobody should panic. Life must go on,” Amrit said. He, however, suggested the people to remain alert.