New Delhi: After the Lok Sabha witnessed uproar after RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal said that Sonia Gandhi’s house should be checked for coronavirus as a large number of people who were found to be affected by the virus are from Italy, Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre for the spread of coronavirus in India. On Thursday, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan read out a detailed statement about the measures taken so far by the government in fighting coronavirus.
Reacting to that, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the situation is like the captain of Titanic assuring its passengers not to panic as the ship was unsinkable.
Congress members in the Lok Sabha stormed the Well of the House as soon as Hanuman Beniwal said there should be a probe on whether coronavirus is being spread from the “home” of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
In the Rajya Sabha, Union health minister said the screening of passengers was initiated in the country since 18th January 2020. Initially, airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi were covered and subsequently expanded in a total of 21 airports. As per the evolving situation, initially, Universal Screening was taken up for all passengers coming via direct flights from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand and Singapore.
Since Wednesday, directions have also been issued for Universal Screening for all international passengers coming in the country. Signages have been displayed at prominent places in airports and ports, In-flight announcements are being made and self -declaration forms are being filled up by all passengers. As on 4th March, a total of 6241 flights have been screened covering a total of 6,11,167 passengers. Teams of Specialist doctors were sent to all the airports to ensure effective screening and arrangement for isolation in the attached hospitals.