HAILAKANDI, April 3 - The Hailakandi district administration has launched an intensive contact tracking of persons who came in contact with the first COVID-19 positive person from Badarpur in Karimganj district on a war footing.
The administration identified and quarantined 47 persons including the family members of the brother of the first COVID-19 infected person in whose residence a marriage party of his daughter was held at Panchgram in Hailakandi district.
The health authorities have quarantined all the family members of the brother of the infected person and those who attended the marriage reception, including a caterer. Health Services joint director Dr Ramesh Chandra Dwivedy informed that all the inmates of the house have been kept under home quarantine and are under close observation.
In another development, 10 persons who came to Hailakandi from Bijnore in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in March had been quarantined. Dr Dwivedy informed that the persons from UP have already completed their home quarantine period and their swab samples were sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) for a clinical test. �Though they have completed their quarantine period of 14 days, they have not yet been released. We have kept them under observation. Until we receive the test reports from SMCH, we are going to keep them under extended quarantine as a preventive measure.�
Earlier on Wednesday, all the ten persons were detained in a house at Lakhinagar of the district and an FIR was lodged against the owner of the house where they are staying.
Dr Dwivedy further disclosed that out of 1,442 home quarantined persons, 715 have completed their stipulated period of 14 days confinement. �Though they have completed their quarantine period and have no symptoms of COVID-19, they would not be set free as a preventive measure following a positive case in Karimganj,� he added.
It has warned of stern action against the Tablighi Jamaat attendees who haven�t yet reported to the police and health authorities. Altogether 56 persons from the district attended the religious congregation at Markaz, Nizamuddin, police sources said.
Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said instruction has been given to the police to take strict action against any government employee who indulges in hate-mongering on social media.
The administration is monitoring social media activities very closely and warned the hate-mongers to refrain from any illegal activities.
Disinfecting of markets, offices, clearing of drains and door-to-door collection of garbage are being carried out by municipal workers in Hailakandi, Lala, Katlicherra and elsewhere in the district.
The district police have set up helpline numbers 9864609954 and 03844-222580 to report on any matters relating to COVID-19 and lodging of complaints against lockdown violations.