Kota returnees to be screened, quarantined in Assam: minister

391 students coming back to Assam from Kota in Rajasthan will be screened on entering state at Srirampur border and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will t be allowed to proceed to Guwahati, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday.

It has been decided that students, who are currently travelling back to state, would be kept at  Sarusajai quarantine facility in Guwahati, minister told reporters here.

"If, however, anybody is found to have fever or symptoms, y will t be allowed to travel furr (from Srirampur). If re are such cases, all will be kept at  quarantine facility in Guwahati," Sarma said.

Those with symptoms of coronavirus infection will be quarantined in Kokrajhar district bordering West Bengal. Swab tests will be conducted on students on  fifth day and doctors will decide wher or t those testing negative can be discharged and allowed to spend remaining nine days under home observation, minister said.

students, who have alrey been in quarantine in Kota, have t come into direct contact with any COVID-19 patient and so ir quarantine period will be 14 days, he said.

It is 28 days for those who have come into direct contact of COVID-19 patients, Sarma clarified.  quarantine of students are mandatory as y are coming from Rajasthan which is in Red Zone and re is also possibility of getting infected during  journey, he said.

Assam government is facilitating return of  students in 17 buses against a charge of Rs 7,000 per he.  state government was initially t keen to bring m back and Sarma urged m in video conferences to stay back. "But we have to consider fact that y are all teenrs and felt insecure when Uttar Presh, Uttarakhand and Mhya Presh governments brought back ir students,"  minister said on Friday.

Kota town in Rajasthan is a coaching hub where medical and engineering aspirants from different parts of country go every year in large numbers.  Assam government requested authorities of Rajasthan, Uttar Presh, Bihar and West Bengal to allow ir movement during ongoing lockdown period.

A team of state government officials are monitoring ir movement through GPS and also coordinating with  different state governments, Sarma said.