Contact Tracing Challenges Intensify As Kasaragod Coronavirus Carrier ‘AmeerB’ Is Reportedly Involved In Gold Smuggling 

Two days after he was tested positive for Covid-19, Kasaragod district administration is still struggling to construct and release the route map of a Gulf returnee as it is dotted with several gaping holes , The New Indian Express reported. The patient is said to be refusing to furnish details of his local trips due to dubious nature of his activities.

Ameer B (name changed to protect identity) returned from the Gulf on 11 March and was asked to be in self quarantine in view of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak but his actions have sent the State government authorities on a tizzy as he went on a travel and visit spree before testing positive for the pandemic disease.

One of his friends, who has tested positive for Covid-19, is also refusing to cooperate with the officials. A total of 609 people are under observation in Kasaragod district.

According to latest reports, Ameer B has steadfastly refused to reveal the names of the persons he met and the places he visited because of the likelihood that he was a carrier of smuggled gold to Kerala.

The report quoted N S Raji, deputy Customs Commissioner at Calicut International Airport, as saying, “The main reason why he cannot reveal the names is that all his initial contacts after landing at the airport are gold smugglers and jewellers interested in smuggled goods.”

The Customs officials also said that if he revealed the persons he was in contact, several publicly known persons will be exposed.

It has also emerged that Ameer had travelled 14 times to West Asia in the past three months, said N S Raji, deputy Customs Commissioner at Calicut International Airport. He is said to have mostly used Karipur airport (Calicut International Airport) the most, but has also flown out and landed at Mangaluru, Mumbai, and Varanasi airports

According to customs officials, Ameer’s passport was impounded along with two other passengers when they arrived at Calicut International Airport, and he asked him to bring their luggage for inspection. But instead of bringing the luggage, the three persons allegedly slipped out of the airport with their baggage.

At a press meet on Friday, Kerala Chief Minister termed the development in Kasaragod “worrisome”.

Kasaragod District Collector D Sajith Babu, said the Coronavirus patient was not providing full details about the places he visited and events he attended.

Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi quoted the collector as saying that among the information hidden by the Gulf returnee include donation of blood by him at Mangaluru.

The latest development has resulted in a total shutdown in the district to curb further spread of the pandemic. They will be shut for two weeks, as per protocol norms.

According to local media reports, after landing from Gulf at the Karipur airport in Kannur, the person travelled to three districts attending two weddings and a funeral.

The Gulf returnee also met two IUML (Indian Union Muslim League) members of the Kerala legislative Assembly, who are now in self quarantine. Finally, he also attended a football match in the town, raising fears that he could have spread the disease further.