In Himachal, Covid -ve report must for industrial labour rejoining work

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, May 10

The Nalagarh SDM today directed the managements of industrial houses in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) belt to strictly ensure that migrants have negative RT-PCR test reports before they rejoin duty after leave of five days or more.

Though the district administration had directed the industrial managements in December last year to enforce this norm, it was observed that workers were being let in merely after a self-declaration note.

SDM Mahinder Pal said, “It has also been made mandatory to upload these reports while seeking e-passes for the employees.”

“In case the employees do not furnish these reports, they will have to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine before rejoining. The industrial associations have been directed to strictly adhere to these norms or face action.”

Sources said it was observed that industrial workers entered the BBN belt without the RT-PCR test reports and then queued up at testing centres. The rush at the testing centres delayed the testing of locals, triggering the spread of the virus.

The data of those entering the BBN belt is now being analysed on the basis of e-passes, said the SDM. Nearly 1,500 people applied for e-passes yesterday to enter the BBN belt, and this number rose to 2,500 today.

The BBN belt was one of the worst hit in the state during the first wave, and this time too there appears to be no let-up in the surge. As many as 55 deaths have been reported in the fresh wave in the subdivision while there are 1,230 active cases. With the movement of truckers from several states, including high caseload ones like Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, and 50,000 industrial workers commuting on a daily basis, the area is highly vulnerable.

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