Team Herald
Mapusa: The authorities at the Patradevi border checkpost have temporarily stopped using the inward ‘quarantine stamp’ after a three persons, who were quarantined in Mapusa faced an allergic reaction.
Pernem Mamlatdar, Anant Malik, while speaking to Herald, said they have stopped putting the inward stamp on people’s hands. “The ink had validity till September 2020 but we don’t how people faced this allergic reaction. To avoid more such cases, we have stopped stamping quarantine stamp at Patradevi checkpost,” he stated.
Sources said the government is going to replace the ink used for stampingat the Patradevi checkpost.
The issue came to light after Prajyot Lawande, a Goan software engineer, suffered skin infection and posted pictures of the same on Twitter, which was addressed to the govt. He had arrived at the Goa border from Mumbai on May 6 with his wife and a friend. At the Patradevi checkpost, the staff put the inward stamp, on their hands, which was followed by a medical check up at the District Hospital, Mapusa. Then, they were quarantined at Mapusa Residency.
However, their hands which had the stamp started itching and caused them severe pain. They contacted the medical officer at the Centre, whilst also producing the letter they had been issued by the Mamlatdar. He said the doctor arranged for medicines immediately. They expect the skin to recover in a week’s time or more.
He tweeted on May 7 saying, “The inward stamp applied at Patradevi checkpost (on arrival) has caused a severe allergic reaction to our hands, with the skin itching, puffing and eventually peeling off overnight. ”
He explained that the skin where they were stamped started itching badly immediately upon stamping.
“I’m not sure what quality of ink is used at this check post for stamping. I mean we have been inked before during elections but never ever had such an allergic reaction. Same is the issue with my wife and friend. This can be extremely painful and unbearable especially for kids. The on duty doctor here at the Mapusa residency has been helpful and provided us with an ointment and a tablet,” he tweeted further.
He also praised Mapus¬a residency for being well managed and thanked the Chief Minister and the Health Minister. He added that the COVID-19 tests had been conducted swiftly and that they appreciated their hard work.
“So our COVID results came negative and we were discharged from the quarantine centre,” he said, while adding that the Mamlatdar updated them about the developments.
