Alert sounds after dislocation of a Covid positive in Tripura

AGARTALA: An alert has been sounded with the report of dislocation of a Covid positive truck driver for past three days who was tested on May 7 last that spread tension in the state. Police have been asked to launch an investigation into the person who was found positive but now missing.
According to the report, a truck driver was found positive but confusion came in identification, as after collection of swab, he left the state.Two truck drivers of the same name one from Karimganj of Assam and another from Malda of West Bengal was targeted.
However, on investigation it was reportedly found that Malda driver was negative who was kept quarantined here and when Covid surveillance team had reached to the driver at Kasthyagram of Karimganj of Assam, he claimed no swab was collected from him. Later, he was tested negative there.
The health officials have been accused of serious lapses and when the information spread in neghibouring Assam, they sealed border with Tripura. Assam has stopped movements of all vehicles except goods transporting trucks. The additional chief secretary holding the charge of health S K Rakesh visited Churaibari entry gate along with Assam and reviewed the arrangement on Sunday.
In Tripura – Assam border, Covid team has been collecting sample from every 5th vehicle who is asymptomatic and not comes from the hotspot, which believed to increase the spread of infection and trigger the tension. The entry of outside vehicles with goods and the people has been stranded outside for one and a half months due to lockdown. Though the testing ratio of Tripura claims to be highest in the northeast, it was not extensive, which has increased the risk of further spread of infection.
With the 16 cases including nine children and six women from the family members of BSF 86th battalion on Sunday, cases in BSF has raised to 148 so far. However, a few hundred of jawans and their family members of 3rd, 86th and 138th battalion of BSF and the civilians around them are still waiting for testing.
Meanwhile, everyday average 500 people stranded in different Indian states have been entering into Tripura through Churaibari and they were sent to a facility quarantine till test reports come. The entry would be more from tomorrow, as the first train with 1200 stranded people is scheduled to arrive from Bangaluru at late night.
“We have made all arrangement of testing in the stations within the state wherever the passenger gets down. The sample will be collected from the person and immediately send them to quarantine and would be released only when the test report will be negative,” said a health official.