Kumbh pilgrims returning to UP districts to be under observation

LUCKNOW: The pilgrims returning to Uttar Pradesh after taking a dip at Kumbh in Haridwar will be under observation, along with migrant workers, returning home from other states, said state government officials on Thursday.

Seven UP districts, Pilibhit, Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad, Bijnore, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur share border with Uttarakhand. Incidentally, all seven districts have recorded surge in Covid-19 cases since April 1.Divisional commissioner, Saharanpur division, AV Rajamouli said the district magistrates of all the districts bordering Uttarakhand had been directed to screen people returning home from Haridwar Kumbh.

The mobile number and address of the pilgrims had been forwarded to the district surveillance teams to screen pilgrims.

All the pilgrims will remain under observation for minimum one week. “The health workers have been directed to collect sample for antigen and RT-PCR test. If the test is positive, then the rapid response teams will visit the house of the patient with medical kit for home isolation. If required, the patient will be admitted in the health facilities,” he said

Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad said to check the spread of the Covid infection the state government had directed the district magistrates of all the 75 districts to screen people coming from various states, including migrant workers and pilgrims coming from Uttarakhand. The state government has made seven days home quarantine mandatory for all the visitors whereas the asymptomatic people will have to stay in 14 days home quarantine.

If the people travelling to UP have Covid symptoms and the sample test is positive then the person will have to stay in home isolation or get admitted in the Covid hospital, Prasad said.

District magistrate, Saharanpur, Akhilesh Singh said the district administration had activated the surveillance committees in urban and rural areas and they had been directed to maintain watch on the people arriving from other states,.