Two international passengers test positive for Covid at Kolkata airport

Two international passengers, including a British national, have tested positive for Covid-19 at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport (NSCBI), amid a nationwide alert over resurgence of the pandemic in various countries. The British national has been sent to isolation at Beliaghata Infectious Disease Hospital in the city. Meanwhile, the state health secretary held a meeting with all the state run hospitals across the districts today. Taking a cue from the Centre, states will conduct a mock drill all across the country on December 27.

The woman passenger, with a British passport, had arrived from Kuala Lumpur and was travelling to Bodh Gaya. The other passenger (male) came from Dubai. He is reportedly a resident of Bihar and returned on Monday. Both samples have been sent for genome sequencing, sources said.

The development comes even as five foreign nationals have tested positive for Covid-19 in Bihar’s Buddhist pilgrimage town Bodh Gaya. Like the British national, their samples were sent for genome sequencing. They had arrived on December 20 to participate in Kaal Chakra Puja, where Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama is the chief guest.


The Kaal Chakra Puja is held in Bodh Gaya every year and people from across the world come here.

Meanwhile, a high-level meeting was held by state Health secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam today with district hospitals, ahead of mock drill tomorrow.

During the meeting, condition of the oxygen plants, number of Covid beds, ventilation facilities, stock of masks was reviewed. In addition, it was seen whether there are trained nurses and adequate number of doctors available in the hospitals. Monitoring of overall hospital infrastructure was also done by the state Health secretary and state-run district hospital authorities, health department sources told ET.

All these data will be provided to the Centre as sought from the states. Tomorrow, a mock drill will be conducted in Kolkata’s Beleghata ID, MR Bangur and Sambhunath Pandit hospitals.

The mock drill will continue for three days in all district hospitals, starting from December 27. Health officials will visit the district hospitals and it will continue till December 29, people in know told ET. Infrastructure in the hospitals, availability of PPE kits, oxygen plants will also be reviewed during their visit.
It is pertinent to mention that only six crore second dose jabs were taken by people in the state while 1.5 crore people only took the booster doses.

Nigam is likely to speak to the Centre on fresh guidelines and fresh supply of vaccines from the Centre. It can be noted that there is no COVID vaccine stock available in both government and private hospitals at the moment.

Dr Suman Poddar, a doctor, said, “What is happening now in China, we have no idea what will happen in our country. I think random testing should be increased. Doctors must be consulted if any symptoms are found among people.”