Coronavirus: Screening set up at 3 new points between India-Bangladesh

The West Bengal government has introduced medical screening of passengers at three new points along the border it shares with Bangladesh owing to the coronavirus outbreak in China, which has now spread to many countries.

The medical screening has been installed at Hili, Petrapole and Gede border points, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

People entering India will be examined at these important checkpoints as some of them may have visited China in the recent past, a senior state Health Department official of India was quoted as saying by our correspondent.

"We need to keep an eye on those entering India through these borders. We must conduct a medical test on them before allowing entry," the official said.

A few days back Ajay Chakraborty, the director of health services, visited the border areas to oversee the medical facilities there, he added.

Meanwhile, last month the state health department initiated similar measures in Mirik, Pashupati market and Panitanki village along India-Nepal border. Nepal confirmed its first case of coronavirus a week ago.

A screening mechanism is also in place along the Agartala-Akhaura border for Bangladeshis coming to India.  

India has so far confirmed two cases of coronavirus positive—both in the southern state of Kerala where more than 800 people who recently came back from China are under observation.

Twelve people have been put in isolation wards in hospitals in Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu on Friday, while eight Chinese nationals who reached Chennai airport on Saturday, have been admitted to an isolation ward. These nationals are from China's Guangdong province, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said.

Surveillance was also heightened in Tangra locality in eastern part of Kolkata.

The state government has also decided to set up isolation wards at seven medical establishments, besides the Infectious Disease hospital in Beliaghata area of Kolkata, where precautionary measures are already in place. All hospitals have been asked to keep adequate number of personal protective gears as well.