9k fly into city but no case of q-violation

Nagpur: In last 37 days since domestic flights have resumed, 16,126 people arrived at Nagpur Airport. Of these, 8,784 were from the city. The state government has made 14-day home quarantine mandatory and directed action be taken in case of violation. Amazingly, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) claims not a single case of violation has come to fore.
This is not because everyone is following the rules.NMC is reportedly not monitoring the arrivals persons. Some with travel history from Mumbai, Pune, other districts and states had tested positive for Covid-19 in the city. But they were detected only when they came for medical check up.
On the other hand, Zilla Parishad (ZP) has been testing whoever it comes toknow has arrived from other districts or states.
As NMC data, 140 flights arrived in the city between May 25 and June 30. Of the total 16,126 arrivals, 7,342 were from other districts and neighbouring states MP and Chhattisgarh. In these cases, respective collectors and municipal commissioners are responsible to ensure 14-day home quarantine.
NMC had stamped the hands of remaining 8,784 who were from the city for home quarantine and even claimed to paste a sticker at their houses. NMC officials told TOI that a list of air passengers of the city is passed on to all 10 zones. Staffers are supposed to monitor and initiate action in case of violation of home quarantine.
They said violators can be put in institutional quarantine or even booked by police. “But we did not come to know about violation of home quarantine by any air passenger till date,” they said.
NMC sources said, “There is no day-to-day monitoring at homes as medical team of zones has been given responsibility. Already, the team is short staffed and engaged in containment zones, special camps for testing for Covid-19 and contact tracing.”
Though not mandatory, NMC has not prepared any system to test air passengers. At airport, NMC team only does thermal scanning of arriving passengers.
On the other hand, ZP has taken swab samples of several air passengers and some of them had tested positive for Covid-19.
NMC claims to be thoroughly following quarantining of air passengers in case their co-passenger tests positive. “We quarantine air passengers who travelled in two rows in front, two rows on rear side and those in same row in which person tested positive. We also alert respective districts if air passengers are from other parts of Vidarbha or neighbouring states,” the officials said.
Among 140 flights, positive cases were reported on 21 as on June 30. In city, air passengers had tested positive when they visited any hospital for check up or got quarantined after a co-passenger tested positive.
In standard operating procedures (SoP) issued by government on May 25, the local administration has been authorized to give exemption in home isolation for contributing in an office or for other important work after checking the passengers.
NMC officials said around 150 air passengers were given exemption. “Most exemptions has been given to passengers who arrived here but went back within a week. Also, exemption is for ministers, legislators, government officials, doctors etc. A form seeking exemption is being filled at airport on case-to-case basis after going through all documents,” they said.
The district had registered 64% of total cases in June while remaining 36% in 82 days of March, April and May.