It's impossible to track inter-state bus passengers: Eatala Rajender

Hyderabad : Stating that it is impossible to screen passengers coming to Telangana by trains and buses from neighbouring States, Health Minister Eatala Rajender has called upon people to be responsible and pro-active to the situation and help the government in containing the spread of the disease. Government is doing all what is possible, but citizens, their family members and relatives are equally responsible and contact health authorities on a priority basis, he stressed.

Eatala felt that such big challenges could be successfully overcome if the government is very active and it is ably supported by its people. The minister was reacting to a query whether the health department was contemplating any screenings of inter-state passengers in bus stations and railway stations in Telangana as cases are being reported from Maharashtra, Kerala and other states.

He stressed that they are focussing mainly on checking every passenger coming from abroad as the virus had spread to several countries. Cases of community transmission with the people of the country is not alarming yet when compared to passengers who are infected abroad and testing positive after landing in the country. Thorough screenings are being done at the airport and whoever is found to be having suspected symptoms is being shifted to Gandhi or Fever hospital directly, the minister said.

Meanwhile, two senior IAS officers-T K Sridevi and Manicka Raj have been assigned responsibilities. While Sridevi would be heading the procurement committee and it will act swiftly to buy needed medicines or equipment etc as usual tendering process is not advisable here. While Manicka Raj would be taking care of the teams (including 104 and 108 services) that would be keeping track of the 5,000 odd-passengers who are landing in Hyderabad by international flights every day. His team would ensure that each one of them stays in home isolation for two weeks, the minister said.

Communication and awareness campaign through hoardings, pamphlets and advertisements is being taken care of by I and PR Commissioner Arvind Kumar, he added.