Aboard the MV Mahabahu Cruise, where American COVID-19 Carrier Hewitt Spent a Week, Fear Continues to Reign Supreme

Jorhat, March 7, 2020:

Aboard the MV Mahabahu Brahmaputra River Cruise, 52 people await anxiously for news that could change their lives. 22 tourists and 30 employees of the cruise ship are currently being screened for the feared coronavirus. Fear and anxiety of being tagged with the COVID-19 taboo is what pervades the ship which recently played host to its most famous passenger yet, the American Hewitt.

[caption id="attachment_54256" align="alignnone" width="660"] Mahabahu at Neematighat[/caption]

The cruise boat, that is currently anchored at Nimatighat harbour, is part of Assam's biggest cornavirus horror story as it was boarded by Hewitt, who along with his partner Sandra, had spent more than a week in Assam before heading off to Bhutan, where he was tested 'positive' for the dreaded COVID-19. The 'tested positive' status of the tourist has raised the alarm in the neighboring country, which has sealed its borders to international tourists.

ALSO READ: US Tourist who Recently Visited Guwahati, Detected with Coronavirus in Bhutan

A team of experts earlier today travelled by boat to the Mahabahu and the passengers and the employees of the cruise have been now been placed under quarantine, and fear of the dreaded COVID-19 is probably is what kept them awake last night, as the ship anchored off the coast.

"Fear of the dreaded COVID-19 is probably is what kept them awake last night, as the ship anchored off the coast"

Meanwhile, at least 127 people, who had contact with the mysterious Hewitt have been placed under quarantine and the Government is closely monitoring the situation. People who exhibit symptoms associated with the virus, meanwhile, have been advised to turn themselves in. Earlier, in the morning, Assam Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika, confirmed that no less than 127 people have been quarantined. "Contact tracing has revealed that at least 127 people came in contact with the US tourist who has tested positive for coronavirus…he was in Assam for a fairly long time. Now, all these people have been put in quarantine. Moreover, they have have been urged to self-identify if they start exhibiting any of the symptoms associated with the virus. We will then give them isolation wards…”, he told Inside Northeast earlier.

Across the state, tension prevails in the aftermath of the revelation that the Assamese have had their closest crush with the dreaded virus yet. "We keep hearing about this virus...its on the tv, radio, everywhere. Its game over if you are infected", Bir Sinha, a Guwahati chai wallah told me earlier.

Although the virus has reportedly claimed over 3,000 lives, more than 57,000 have recovered. 102,242 cases have been recorded so far in over 65 countries, and the latest death rate has been pegged at 3.4 percent – higher than earlier figures of about 2 percent. (Source: worldometers.info)

ALSO READ: Nagaland: Angami Body Demands Ban on ILP to Tourists from COVID-19 Affected Countries

In Assam, India, and beyond, the panic over the virus has taken on social dimensions, with masks flying off shelves of stores (almost to the point that health personnel themselves have reported shortage of protective masks). In wake of the 'Hewitt' episode, alarms have also been raised in other parts of the Northeast, and the State of Sikkim has temporarily restricted Inner Line Permit (ILP) to foreign tourists. In Nagaland also demands have begun to ban the entry of foreigners by restricting issuance of ILP.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.