TS told to trace 3,297 returnees from China

Officials will have to quarantine them for 28 days

A mandatory 28-day home quarantine for passengers returning from the coronavirus-affected China and other countries into Hyderabad has been ordered by the Central government, irrespective of whether they display any of the symptoms of the disease or not. This will imply that 3,297 passengers, who landed in Hyderabad since January 15 till Tuesday, will have remain quarantined and avoid coming into direct contact from anyone outside of their homes for the specified period.

In addition, screening of passengers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia will henceforth be conducted on the aerobridges, before passengers are allowed into the airport.

The Centre on Tuesday said that dedicated gates for aircraft arriving from virus-affected countries should be identified as passengers need to be screened on the aerobridges. This system will also be put in place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in the city.

With respect to home quarantines, local district medical and health officials have been instructed to implement a thrice-aday monitoring of health of these passengers as well as that of their family members, who too have to remain quarantined for four weeks. “Every morning, afternoon and evening, our staff is calling them on phones and checking on their health, including for any possible disease symptoms,” Dr G. Srinivasa Rao, director, health department, said.

So far, 51 people from 12 districts, including Hyderabad and five from AP, who have self-reported for checks have been tested for the virus.

Except in four cases, where the results were awaited, all others have tested negative for the disease, the state government said in a bulletin.

However, 15 of these people have been kept under surveillance as part of the home quarantine procedures in Hyderabad, 10 in Ranga Reddy district, Medchal (nine), Peddapalli (three), Warangal (urban) (two) and one each in Jagitial, Adilabad, BhadadriKothagudem, Warangal (rural), Khammam, Vikarabad and Nalgonda districts.

Of those who tested negative,

25 had exhibited some of the symptoms such, as suffering from a cold, or mild fevers.

Against the background of the 2019-nCoV outbreak, the government has urged people to follow ‘cough and sneezing etiquette’ by using a handkerchief or a towel to cover their nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. The government also urged people to frequently wash their hands with soap and water. People can contact the State Helpline on Novel Coronavirus disease at

040-2465-1111 if they have any questions or need assistance, the health department said.