Coronavirus: Fool-proof mechanism in place to screen suspects, says Dir Airport

SRINAGAR — Authorities at the Srinagar International Airport on Monday claimed that they have a “fool-proof mechanism” in place to screen the suspects for deadly Coronavirus. There are, however, no guidelines or a direction to stop the travel of Chinese tourists to Kashmir, so far.

China’s Wuhan province has been the epicentre of the Coronavirus virus that claimed close to 3,000 lives, the majority of them in China itself. Over 50,000 were found infected with the virus, who are gradually improving as per the statistics available.

In an exclusive chat, Director Srinagar International Airport Santosh Dhoke said that they have put in place all the necessary arrangements to ensure thorough screening of suspects.

“Specific guidelines have been issued to the airlines too to ensure a close vigil on the suspects and they are following that in true letter and spirit,” he said.

The Director Airport said that two special doctors remain stationed throughout the day at the Airport who are primarily assigned the job of screening the Coronavirus suspects.

“The doctors are well equipped and a separate room has been provided to them. In case any suspect is found, he or she would be immediately whisked away and shifted to the concerned hospital in the ambulance which remains on a standby mode,” he said.

Dhoke said that they have one modern ambulance always available while as Health Department has provided them with one additional ambulance to meet with any emergency-like situation.

“The samples of a few tourists collected by the doctors were taken and they proved to be negative. So far situation is very much under control and there is no need to panic,” he said, adding that the virus that has created scare across the globe is so far away from Kashmir.

Asked whether there are any specific guidelines for travellers arriving from China or Gulf countries where cases of Coronavirus have been detected as positive, he said that there is no particular guideline for tourists coming to Kashmir from various parts of the world.

“That’s something where the Government of India, especially the Union Health Ministry has to take a call. Our job is to facilitate proper screening of tourists who have symptoms of Coronavirus,” he said.