Paliyekkara toll plaza | Photo: J Philip|Mathrubhumi
Thrissur: Toll collection at Paliyekkara toll plaza here has been temporarily stopped after 20 employees tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. Following this, the authority has identified the toll plaza centre as COVID cluster.
93 employees have undergone the antigen test on Tuesday. Among them, 12 tested positive for the virus. Earlier, 8 employees were diagnosed with the infection.
District Medical Officer has ordered to shut down the toll plaza. Following this, the toll plaza authority has completely stopped the operation by noon on Tuesday.
At the same time, the officials alerted that toll will be automatically deducted from vehicles which use FASTag tracks.
A team of health officials led by DMO Dr K J Reena carried out the antigen test for the employees at the toll plaza on Tuesday.
A total of 155 people including 30 women are employed at Paliyekkara toll plaza. According to reports, 90 percent of the staff has been listed in the high-risk category of infection. The cook and supervisor at the place where 40 employees are accommodated also figure in this list.
Meanwhile, the district health department expressed concern over the toll collection in the present circumstances. The department noted that if toll collection is allowed, it will lead to rapid spread of the disease to other districts. The toll plaza will remain closed until new staff arrive to resume operations.
The district collector has issued orders to immediately take action to shift all employees to CFLTC or quarantine centre.
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