Amritsar Delays Screening Teams at International Entry Points, ET HealthWorld

Amritsar: Although no suspected COVID-19 cases were reported in the holy city—despite its regular influx of international travellers—the administration is yet to decide to deploy dedicated COVID inspection teams at both Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport and the Attari International Border to monitor and identify any potential cases.

While maintaining that the administration remains on high alert in light of the COVID-19 situation, Civil Surgeon Dr Kirandeep Kaur said that no advisory was received from either the state or central government regarding the deployment of dedicated medical teams for the screening of international travellers for COVID-19 at ports of entry.

According to the COVID-19 Statewide Status of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, there were 33 COVID-19 active cases in Punjab as of June 11, while the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir had 2 and 9 active cases, respectively.

Dr Ameesha Mahajan of Eden Skin Clinic said that COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise but emphasised that there is no cause for panic.

“The new variants have not been declared Variants of Concern by the WHO,” she said, adding that lessons from past experience show that simple precautions—such as hand hygiene, masking in crowded places, and staying up to date with vaccinations—continue to be highly effective. “Vaccines remain our strongest shield against severe disease,” Ameesha affirmed.

Dr Kirandeep Kaur informed that the Health Department set up isolated wards at the Government Medical College (GMC) , Civil Hospital, and other government facilities, with 300 beds earmarked for COVID-19 patients at GMC alone, in preparation for any emergency. She added that once an advisory is received from either the state or central government, dedicated medical teams will also be deployed at the international airport and the Attari land port.