Bihar officially went into lockdown mode as the state government invoked the drastic Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 on Tuesday to deal with novel coronavirus threat. It empowers district magistrates with sweeping powers to completely seal any geographical area where any positive case of the virus is found. Movement of human beings and vehicles will be stopped to and fro from the sealed areas.

The regulations issued by the state government under the act says that asymptomatic persons (those having no symptoms of cough, fever, difficulty in breathing), but have come in the contact of suspected or confirmed case of the virus shall be kept in home quarantine for 14 days.

Such asymptomatic persons, if they have visited any area or country affected by coronavirus after February 29, have been asked to place themselves under home quarantine and avoid contact with any person or family member for 14 days from their date of arrival.

Senior district administration and health department officials like the district magistrates, sub-divisional magistrates, civil surgeons and medical officers have been empowered to quarantine such asymptomatic persons.

No positive case of coronavirus has been detected in the state so far.

A notification on the imposition of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, was issued by the health department principal secretary, Sanjay Kumar. It said: “The government of Bihar is satisfied that the state is threatened with an outbreak of Covid–19, which is a dangerous epidemic disease and the state government is of the opinion that ordinary provision of law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose.”

As per the regulations issued under the act, all government and private hospitals have been directed to have flu corners for the screening of coronavirus cases.

The history of travel and contact of suspected persons and patients would be recorded at the hospitals if he or she has travelled to any Covid-19 affected area or country.

In addition, the history of coming in contact with any suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus will also be recorded and they will be kept in home quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure or contact even if they are asymptomatic.

Those who have Covid-19 symptoms will be immediately isolated as per the standard operating procedure issued by the central government and tested for the presence of the virus.

“If as suspected case of Covid-19 refuses admission (to hospital) or isolation, the concerned officers shall have powers to forcefully isolate such case for a period of 14 days from the onset of symptoms or till the reports of laboratory tests are receive or such period as may be necessary,” Sanjay said.

The act gives sweeping powers to district administration officials to enter any premises for surveillance, enquiry and physical examination of any suspected cases. It also makes it mandatory for the people to cooperate with such officials.

The state government regulations issued with the imposition of the act also makes it mandatory for all doctors — allopathy and Ayush — to report suspected symptomatic or asymptomatic persons who have a travel history of coronavirus affected areas.

People who do not cooperate or follower orders issued under the Epidemic Diseases Act could be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which entails imprisonment up to six months and monetary fine as well for “disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant”.

Meanwhile, chief secretary Deepak Kumar said: “All shopping malls will be closed from Wednesday and private functions could also be curtailed, if needed. These will be apart from the ongoing directions for social distancing.”

“We have issued directions that all buses should be sanitized at the point of origin and arrangements for passengers to wash their hands before boarding should be made. Such instructions are being issued for auto-rickshaws too, though their owners will be helped by the government in making the needed arrangements,” Deepak added.

The announcement of drastic measures came on a day when at least five cases of H1N1 (Swine flu) virus infection in people were also confirmed in the state capital. Government sources said that the infection was detected during the testing of samples of the suspected cases of coronavirus.

State government sources also said that samples taken from crows that died in Patna last month have tested positive for bird flu (avian influenza) caused by H5N1 virus. The birds had died in February.

The concerned officials including animal husbandry department secretary N Saravanan Kumar and director Vinod Singh Gunjiyal did not respond to phone calls and messages on the issue. Sources said that the positive cases should have announced earlier, but were seemingly brushed under the carpet.