A toll plaza in Kerala has been shut after 20 members of staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The Paliyekkara toll plaza in Thrissur district was closed down following the positive tests, and the health department has asked all other staff to go into quarantine.
The same toll plaza was shut previously in March after a COVID-19 outbreak.
As per reports, the toll plaza will reopen only after disinfecting the toll booths and ensuring that the staff who didn’t come in contact with those who tested positive are available to operate the toll booths. It will take at four days for the plaza to start functioning again.
At least 90 staff members were tested for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, and 11 tests returned positive. The others had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier. Out of the 20 staff members, five have been confirmed to have collected money from the passing vehicles at the booth. It is likely that all staff members came in contact with those who tested positive for the viral infection.
The News Minute reported that the Thrissur district collector S. Shanavas has directed Guruvayur Infrastructure Private Limited, the company that runs the toll plaza, to provide quarantine facility to the staff.