Screening for Covid-19 to be stepped up at Hyderabad airport

Telangana health minister Etala Rajendar on Monday announced that thermal screening of passengers arriving at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) will be stepped up to ensure that the health status of everyone arriving into the city is properly checked.

He was speaking after visiting the airport on Monday in wake of reports from Kerala that three persons, who flew in from Italy, managed to escape from being screened at the Kochi airport by lying about their travel history. All the three, along with two of their relatives, have since tested positive for Covid-19.

The health minister went around the airport accompanied by senior health department officials and the airport health officer. He was briefed about the current screening procedures put in place. Later, the minister chaired a meeting with senior officials at the BRK Bhavan on preparedness of the state in tackling the virus and steps being taken to prevent any outbreak of the disease.

Meanwhile, chief secretary Somesh Kumar has informed the Union cabinet secretary about how Telangana is being vigilant and taking all possible steps to prevent coronavirus from spreading in the state. During his video conference with the cabinet secretary, Somesh Kumar requested that the central government provide two thermal scanners at the RGIA in addition to sanctioning more labs for testing samples collected from potential coronavirus victims.

The health department said 11 persons, who showed symptoms of the disease, have been admitted to the isolation ward in the Gandhi Hospital on Monday for tests to ascertain whether they had contracted the virus. In all, results of 21 samples tested were awaited.