SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 30: In wake of the new Corona variant Omicron, the Deoghar district administration has put foreign devotees of Babadham under the scanner.
Deoghar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri has in this regard directed the concerned officers of the health department as well as district administration to ensure Covid test of all the foreign visitors at Baba Baidyanath and keep records of their contact information for tracing on a priority basis.
Since the coupon system has been withdrawn, a mad rush of devotees including foreigners in large numbers is being registered every day at Babadham. The embargo on the entry of children and aged persons in temple premises has also been lifted by the state government.
Due to the possible danger of Omicron, the DC, while focusing on testing of visitors to Babadham, has also directed the concerned officials to streamline medical infrastructure for combating the situation right from district headquarters to Panchayat level.
“Initiate all possible safety measures without upsetting the devotees,” directed the DC to officers on Tuesday while holding an online meeting.
He also asked for screening of the visitors and arrangement of isolation wards in case any positive person is found.
Meanwhile, the Deoghar district administration has also tagged fuel delivery to vehicles with Covid vaccination. This step was earlier taken by the Dhanbad administration too.
While holding the video conferencing with all petrol pump operators of district, district supply officer, transport officer, motor vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) asked them to put up signboards of ‘No Vaccination , No Fuel’ at all the refilling stations.
“Whoever comes for refilling fuel, encourage him to take the vaccine so that the 100% target of vaccination could be achieved,” said the DC.
Dhanbad district administration has already made Covid vaccination mandatory for private as well as commercial vehicles who come by the pumps for fuel.