COVID19 Quarantine Stamp Leaves More Than A Mark! Who's To Blame?

Bhubaneswar: Amid the huge influx of stranded migrants, Odisha government, on May 23, had ordered that all those returning to the state will have to be stamped with indelible ink on their right inner forearm at the border checkpoints, receiving station or designated quarantine centres.

However, concerns are now being raised over the quality of the ink that was used to stamp the returnees.

On June 8, approximately 29 passengers flew from Jharsuguda to Bhubaneswar in a connecting AirIndia flight. After their arrival at BPIA, all the intra-state travellers were stamped by the airport authorities which is said to be in contradiction of the norms. Afish Hota of Bhubaneswar, who was one of the travellers has alleged the ink is of extremely inferior quality and not suitable for topical use.

Speaking to OTV, Afish alleged, "It was not stated in the government guidelines to stamp the intra-state travellers. A day after getting inked, I started getting irritation on my skin. Two days later, I had serious boil and rashes and had to consult a skin specialist."

Another traveller Sristi Ray also claimed the same. In a tweet, she recently had said, "Upon return at Biju Pattnaik Airport this morning at Bhubaneswar I was stamped for quarantine. I have an infection with a painful breakout. "

Upon return at Biju Pattnaik Airport this morning at Bhubaneswar I was stamped for quarantine. I have an infection with a painful breakout. The ink is of extremely bad quality and does not seem to be made for topical use. Improve this situation, please.@bmcbbsr @CMO_Odisha pic.twitter.com/LvAJ5i9rc3

— Sristi Ray (@ray_sristi) June 10, 2020

Similarly, Prakash, who arrived in Bhubaneswar from Pune on June 7, also complained of skin-related complications after application of the ink. "I am a returnee from Pune, Maharashtra State on 7th June via Delhi in a connecting flight to Bhubaneswar. In Bhubaneswar airport, they marked all the passengers with this stamp. I think the ink contains some acid content which results in skin burning after one day," he tweeted.

I am a returnee from Pune, Maharashtra State on 7th June via Delhi in a connecting flight to Bhubaneswar. In Bhubaneswar airport they marked all the passrngers with this stamp.
I think the ink contains some acid content which results skin burning after one day. pic.twitter.com/yOV02TzjGI

— Prakash (@Prakash_8595) June 8, 2020

It is yet to be ascertained as to whether the used by the airport authorities was provided by Odisha government or the Centre. Comments regarding the incident could not be obtained from the concerned authorities. The story will be updated once the response is received from the officials.

(Edited By: Bikram Keshari Jena)

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