Chandigarh, April 6, 2020: KBS Sidhu, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab, has shared the state government's plan for incoming and outgoing travellers once lockdown is lifted.
Present Protocol for Inbound Travellers
Circulated vide letter no. 14/07/2020-4HB4/1014 dated 31.03.2020.
The persons who are bonafide residents of the State of Punjab and are travelling from other States to the State of Punjab.
As per these instructions, all such persons would be screened
If found asymptomatic, they will be placed in home quarantine for 14 days along with the persons staying in the house where such person is to be quarantined, as per notifications issued by State Government vide no. PS/SHFW/2020/224 and IDSP/PB/2020/1733-1798 dated 21.03.2020
Testing strategy and protocol of referral, tests will be conducted in Government facilities and the health department’s protocol for the management of such persons will be followed.
Controlled Entry: Selected Entry Points
In order to control the stream of travellers state should identify and designate ENTRY POINTS
Traveling by Private Vehicles or On Foot: Only Preselected Entry points.
Traveling by State Transport: Only at preselected Bus stands.
Traveling by Railways: Selected Stations with Selected Train.s
Selected Airports.
No Interstate travel should be allowed other than from these Entry points
These entry points MUST have
Screening facilities (to be identified and set up)
Parking facilities (To be identified and prepared)
Basic Amenities such as Drinking water and Toilets
Proper Electricity and lighting
Travellers who are just Passing Through the State
May be issued passes at the identified entry points.
Such persons/vehicles may not be allowed to stop within the State.
They will be allowed to move in batches.
SoP for State Citizens coming to Punjab from other states
Allowed only through predesignated Entry Points (Road, Bus Stations, Railway stations or Airports).
Will be directly taken to Screening Facilities.
All Passengers and Drivers will be necessarily screened.
Will be screened as per existing protocol.
All Screening facilities are to mapped with State Quarantine or Isolation Facilities.
Teams comprising of Health, Police and Civil Administration has to man these point around the clock so DCs have to immediately plan for these teams along with their placement.
Protocol for Screening of Travellers
All Passengers and Driver and Staff will be screened.
All will be asked to fill their details (to be used for communication to Districts) Self Declaration: Name/Contact number/Aadhar Card/Traveling from and Their next one month stay (14 Home Quarantine and 14 days self reporting of Symptoms).
Screening: Fever (Through Thermal Scanner or Infrared thermometers) or Cough or difficulty in breathing.
If found asymptomatic, travellers will be send to their destinations with compulsory Home Quarantine of 14 days (Indelible Ink Mark of HOME QUARANTINE) and 14 days self reporting of symptoms.
If found symptomatic, immediately samples will be taken and travellers can either be sent to State Quarantine Facilities or they can be home quarantined till their test arrive. Though a decision and respective protocol has to be finalised.
Once found Positive they will be treated as per existing protocol.
Other Points
Protocol for how to screen effectively yet in shortest possible time, has to be developed.
The notified entry points and Screening Centres be circulated to all concerned departments and widely publicized in print and electronic media for the information of the general public.
Movement of Migrants from Punjab
There are many migrant as well people from other states stuck in Punjab due to lockdown, who may want to go to their respective states once lockdown lifts.
There will be unprecedented congestion on Roads, Railway Stations and Airports.
Police and other authorities have to plan for this in advance.
We have to think about recording this data of outgoing travellers (While keeping in view of COVID protocols of social distancing) -- Automated (By Cellular service providers), Manual (By asking them to fill forms before boarding).
For example which interstate buses or Trains will ply, have to be deliberated and informed to appropriate authorities in advance.
Government of India can think of sequential, one state to another state movement to stop the congestion.