As Bihar saw a spike in coronavirus cases between May 4 and May 17, from 528 to 1,178, the numbers show the majority of the 650 new cases come from migrant workers who have returned to the state. Among the 650 new coronavirus cases in Bihar, 525 are of migrant labourers.
Of these, 185 infected migrants returned from New Delhi, followed by 123 from Gujarat and 106 from Maharashtra.
Though the number of 1,178 cases recorded till 2 pm on Sunday has already shot up to 1,251; a categorized segregation of the latest 71 cases is to yet to be done. 21 of the new coronavirus cases reported on Sunday are from Bihar Military Police. This has taken the tally of infected police personnel in Bihar beyond 50.
The good news for Bihar is that all these migrants have been placed in government-run isolation centres, which have been set up in districts. This will eliminate the possibility of their mixing with other villagers.
As of now, 664 people are being treated at the district isolation centres whereas the medical colleges and hospitals have just 47 patients. “The migrants are being tested on priority,” said Health Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh.
In addition to the isolation centres being run by the State Health Departments, the disaster management department is operating 6,209 quarantine centres wherein more than 3.53 lakh migrants have been placed.
Bihar Information and Public Relations Secretary Anupam Kumar on Sunday said a total of 272 special trains, carrying migrants, have already reached Bihar whereas another 438 have been planned for the next one week. These 710 trains will bring at least 8 lakh migrants to Bihar.
“We will continue to arrange more trains to Bihar as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has issued orders to bring home anyone who wishes to return,” Kumar said.
The returning migrants are being put into 14-day institutional quarantine at block-level centres, after which they will have to undergo seven-day home quarantine. The state government has also made it clear that all migrants will be eligible for government aid of Rs 1,000 after completion of the mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine period.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already issued orders for direct bank transfer of the money into the bank accounts of the individuals after the completion of the quarantine period.
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