New Delhi (NVI): In the wake of questions over its handling of coronavirus crisis, the central government today said it has been proactive, pre-emptive and graded in its response to the challenge.
The government said it took swift action to put in a place a comprehensive and robust system of screening, quarantine and surveillance as part of its response to the public health crisis right quite early. This covered every traveller, Indians returning after business, or tourism, students as well as foreigners.
The government assertion came amidst allegations that the 21-day nationwide lockdown, announced on March 24 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain coronavirus, was without prior planning.
These allegations gained momentum as lakhs of migrant labourers remain stranded without food and supplies in several cities due to the lockdown.
The government countered criticism that its response system was lenient towards foreign travellers. The allegations that ‘prosperous Indians’ were allowed to return without screening, is preposterous, it said.
The Centre released a timeline of its actions since the breakout of the coronavirus pandemic to buttress its point.
The government said, India acted much before WHO declared COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, to put in place a “comprehensive response system” at its borders.
Screening of incoming air passengers was followed by suspension of visas and and ban on international flights was much ahead of any other country.
The government said Italy and Spain, which are devastated by COVID-19, started screening of travellers after 25 days and 39 days, respectively, of the first reported case.
Though the first case of coronavirus was detected in India on January 30, India started the thermal screening of incoming international passengers coming from China and Hong Kong on January 18 itself.
Meanwhile, screening of passengers at 30 a12 major and 65 minor ports and at land borders covered over 36 lakh passengers, the Centre said.
It had also started intensive coordination with the States. “A meticulous system has enabled States to track down individuals who tried to avoid surveillance or who did not not follow quarantine,” the government said, adding that 20 video conferences by Union Health Secretary with State Governments and six by the Cabinet Secretary with the State Chief Secretaries have been held to review the preparedness.
