VASCO: Against the backdrop of the spread of coronavirus in the country and across the world, all eyes are on Dabolim airport that brings in scores of international tourists on a daily basis.
While the government officials insist that they are carrying out the screening and facilities are in place, questions have been raised if it is has been hundred per cent effective in checking each and every passenger landing in Goa. Some local passengers who have travelled to other States last month, pointed out that while the airports in the States they travelled to from Goa, screened each passenger and handed over a health advisory pamphlet, when they returned to Goa, there was no screening, not for them or the passengers, which included foreign tourists. However, this was played down as not being international flights and something that happened in the past, concerns have been raised as to why such gaps are there in the system given the presence of high number of people at all time in and around the airport area.
When contacted Dr J D’Sa, Health Director, reiterated that there is round-the-clock and ample checking being carried out. He said that there are around ten paramedics and a team of nine doctors at the airport. He added that around 6 thermal guns are used to check the passengers. He further added that there are two thermal guns used at the MPT Port area to check passengers for coronavirus infection.
When asked if they have found any suspected cases so far, Dr D’Sa said that on Thursday morning, a female passenger from United Kingdom was taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital as a ‘suspected coronavirus infection’ case, as she was suffering from fever and a sore threat. He added that another person from Nepal, who was under the suspicion of having contracted coronavirus, was transferred from ‘Margao hospital to GMC’.
Further, when asked about what are the additional steps they have taken at the airport, Dr D’Sa said,” the passengers are given forms to fill up with the required details. Further, from Thursday onwards, all passengers, domestic as well as overseas are being screened for Coronavirus infection. Suspected cases are being immediately shifted to isolation wards, which are available at Chicalim sub district hospital, Hospicio at Margao and GMC, Bambolim.”
It may be recalled that following the assurances given by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane in the Assembly, there was a joint meeting as well as inspection by local governing agencies, Airport Authority of India as well as authorities concerned. The Health Minister had also briefed the agencies about the guidelines, which are to be followed to keep a check on the coronavirus in a bid to ensure the state is prepared to counter and prevent its spread. A team of medical professionals have been conducting a thermal scanning for coronavirus infection amongst the overseas tourists at the airport and MPT port.
However, it is not the same level of security at the KTC bus stand or the Vasco railway station. The absence of facilities to check passengers at these places have troubled Mormugao citizens given the high number of people traveling from these two transit points.
When contacted Station Master of Vasco Railway station, G Ramdas, he revealed that so far he has not received any of such information to install any equipment or facility to check for coronavirus at the railway station. Further, when asked if any such facility is provided at the Vasco railway station, he replied in the negative.
It’s a similar situation at the KTC bus depot and when the staff was asked about the same, they said that some KTC officials had attended the joint meeting at the Dabolim airport chaired by the Health Minister about the guidelines to be followed. However, on the ground, they said that they do not have the equipment or facilities to screen passengers for coronavirus infection.
