Corona scare: No entry for tourists to Hills for the first time in Bengal

Darjeeling: In a first ever travel restriction in Bengal owing to COVID-19, tourists will be restricted in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills from March 19 to April 15. This was decided in a high-level meeting of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), district administration, police and different stakeholders in Darjeeling on Wednesday.

Notifications to this effect have been issued by the District Magistrates, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

The notification (No. 175/ Gen (Health) dated 18/03/2020) by the DM, Darjeeling, states that in congruence with "The West Bengal Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations 2020" and pursuant to the meeting held in the GTA office on March 18 with representatives of Motor Association, Porters' Association and Hotel Owners' Association, it is stated that tourists will be restricted in the GTA area in Darjeeling district on and from March 19 till April 15. This is being done to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The notification further states that any resident of the district or any other person presently in the district with a history of travel in the last 16 days to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported, must report to the nearest government hospital or call on 1800313444222/ 03323412600 for necessary action from the Health and Family Welfare department.

Any person with the above history of travel who does not have any symptoms of cough, fever or difficulty in breathing, should isolate themselves at home or as advised by health professionals. Such persons should avoid contact with other persons, including family members, for 14 days.

Clubs or institutions within the district have been asked to refrain from holding any event which requires large gatherings of people and maintain social distancing, as per the notification. Similar notifications were issued by the DM, Kalimpong and a matching order by the GTA.

The high-level meeting took place at Durbar Hall, Lal Kothi, GTA, in Darjeeling. Stakeholders from the travel trade industry, NGOs and representatives from the civil society appealed that tourists be restricted from the GTA area to check the advances of COVID-19.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health stated that isolation and quarantine wards have been set up in Hill hospitals along with North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.