- Wednesday, April 16, 2025
By: indiaweekly.biz Staff
INDIAN Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba has cautioned state governments that there was “a gap” between the number of international passengers being monitored for COVID-19 in the country and the total volume of 1.5 million incoming travellers two months.
In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, Gauba said such a gap “may seriously jeopardise the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19”, given that many among the persons who have tested positive for the virus so far in India had a history of international travel.
Gauba wrote: “…there appears to be a gap between the number of international passengers who need to be monitored by the states/UTs [Union Territories] and the actual number of passengers being monitored. Thus, it may seriously jeopardise our effort to contain the spread of Covid-19, given that many amongst the persons who have tested positive for Covid-19 so far in India have a history of international travel.
“It is important that they are put under close surveillance to prevent the spread of the epidemic. I understand that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has repeatedly emphasised thus and requested the states and UTs to take immediate steps in this regard.”
The cabinet secretary ended the letter urging states and UTs to ensure that “concerted and sustained action” was taken urgently to place “such passengers under survillence immediately” as per guidelines.
By Friday (27), India had reported 863 COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths.
