AGARTALA, March 11 - The Tripura Government has decided to temporarily shut two border haats (markets) along the India-Bangladesh border as a precautionary measure to check the spread of novel coronavirus, officials said today.
A State Health Department advisory asked Land Customs and BSF officials to direct their staff to follow the hygiene protocol for containing the infection, particularly from Bangladeshis.
�For the time being, Bangladeshis suffering from any respiratory problem should be assessed properly before their entry into our State. Moreover, all border haats may be closed for the time being in consultation with the Bangladeshi authorities,� a memorandum signed by the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Debasish Basu, said.
Tripura has two border haats along the India-Bangladesh border � at Kamalasagar in Sepahijala district and Srinagar in South Tripura district. Both the border haats function on Sunday.
The memorandum also asked the district authorities and chief medical officers to maintain strict surveillance on gatherings, bus terminuses and railway stations to check the spread of coronavirus.
Help desks will be set up at the Dharmanagar Railway Station in North Tripura district bordering Assam, it said. The Dharmanagar Railway Station is one of the main entry points to the State.
Passengers will be checked and awareness created, encouraging visitors to report about their health status to the authorities, the memorandum said.
Meanwhile, Director of Health and Family Welfare Radha Debbarma said no positive case of coronavirus has been detected in Tripura so far.
�No positive case of coronavirus has been found in the State so far. We had identified 28 persons who returned from affected countries. Of them, 19 were found to be free of the disease. The remaining have not shown any symptoms, but are under observation,� Debbarma said.
Manipur had on Tuesday shut its border with Myanmar indefinitely amid the novel coronavirus scare. Mizoram had on Monday sealed its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, and banned the entry of foreigners. � PTI
