The Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT) has barred entry to crew or passengers of ships coming from China or certain other South East Asian countries as a stringent precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the deadly Novel CoronaVirus (NCoV), official sources said here on Thursday.
The MbPT has also restricted all crew and passengers who have visited China in the past one month and banned all shore leave/excursions for them.
In its efforts to spread the entry of NCoV into Mumbai, the MbPT implemented stringent measures to detect any persons who may be infected.
Till date, the MbPT health authorities have screened 177 persons including 158 crew and the remaining passengers from ships coming from China or having a recent history of travel to that country.
However, none have tested positive for NCoV, but the strict measures continue, said the official.
All crew/passengers with a history of travel to China or other affected countries are being screened with a thermal scanner at the port,
Besides, captains/masters of all foreign vessels arriving in Mumbai harbor from countries like China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand have been mandated to inform the MbPT authorities in advance about any crews or passengers suspected of NCoV infection with full details.
“We are also obtaining self-declaration from Chinese crew/passengers and those with a history of recent trips to China,” said the official.
As a precautionary measure, the MbPT has acquired N95 protective masks and other personal protective equipments and given to medicos, pilots or other concerned officials who may come in contact with any affected vessels/crew.
Signages on NCoV have been put up, an isolation ward has been set up at the Port Trust Hospital, standard operating procedures have been framed and circulated to vessel agents and others.-IANS NEWS
