Those returned from abroad after 15 Feb must compulsorily give self-declaration

March 27: All those who have come from foreign countries to Cachar district after 15 February, 2020 should compulsorily provide self-declaration before the health authorities, failing which, strict legal action will be initiated under relevant sections of law. Barnali Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar stated this in a letter issued to the Joint Direct of Health Services, Cachar.

The Joint Director of Health Services, Cachar was asked by the Deputy Commissioner to acquire self-declaration of all such people who have returned to Cachar district after 15 February, 2020. She further stated that the Joint Director is to procure a list of all those foreign returned local residents with effect from 15 March, 2020 from the SIB.

This decision by the Deputy Commissioner was taken in the backdrop of the meeting of the State Level Review Meeting at Guwahati headed by the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam on status of COVID-19 across the state held on 25 March, 2020. The Deputy Commissioner asked the Joint Direct of Health Services to report her about the development on a daily basis.

However, a message has been circulated in social media which states, “Anybody who has travelled from anywhere outside Assam and has reached Silchar on or after 15 February, please report to both DC Control ASAP. Please note that the date is 15 Feb not March.” In this connection, way2barak called ADC Rajib Roy, who said that this is a FAKE message. Those who came from abroad after 15 February are only to give self-declaration.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, the country’s top bureaucrat who is leading the COVID-19 crisis management group, wrote in a sharp letter yesterday to states that there was a gap between the actual monitoring of international passengers for COVID-19 and the total arrivals from abroad. The Cabinet Secretary has urged states and Union Territories to involve district authorities to improve tracking.