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Kadha, wrapped utensils — how Murthal dhabas are tackling Covid after 75 staff test positive

As many as 75 of the staff at various popular dhabas along the national highway to Haryana have tested Covid. Of them, 65 alone are from the famous Amrik Sukhdev dhaba in Murthal.

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Sonipat: Murthal in Sonipat, which is dotted by popular dhabas, Friday wore a deserted look after 75 staff of two dhabas tested positive a day before.

Of them, 65 are from the famous Amrik Sukhdev dhaba in Murthal, which is arguably the most popular eatery on National Highway-1 and receives visitors not just from the Delhi-NCR, but Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh too.

The remaining 10 staff are from the adjacent Garam Dharam dhaba. Both the eateries were sealed by the administration Thursday. 

The remaining eateries on the highway have now adopted several precautionary measures — from consuming kadha, washing hands every 20 minutes to wrapping utensils with cellophane sheets — to keep Covid at bay.


Also read: Chhattisgarh displaces Jharkhand to record highest Covid transmission rate at 1.34


Staff of other dhabas waiting for test results

The staff members of Amrik Sukhdev tested positive after the Sonipat district administration carried out a Covid test drive across all the dhabas on NH-1 this week. 

While the test results of Amrik Sukhdev and Garam Dharam dhabas’ staff came Thursday, workers of other eateries are still waiting for their test results.

ThePrint reached the owner of Amrik Sukhdev, Amrik Singh, via phone calls, but his mobile remained switched off until the publication of this report. 

Arjun, the cashier of Mahalaxmi Sangam dhaba situated around 500 metres ahead of Amrik Sukhdev, told ThePrint that they are waiting for the test results.

“In case anyone is found to be positive, we will take major precautions. We have directed our staff to wash their hands every 20 minutes and have been sanitising frequently,” he said.

Dheeraj Chaudhary, general manager of Murthal Haveli dhaba, situated a kilometre away from Amrik Sukhdev, told ThePrint they have also taken all precautions such as keeping utensils wrapped in cellophane sheets and giving their staff members a special kadha advised by the Ministry of AYUSH.

“Our staff had undergone Covid test 15 days ago and nobody tested positive. Every staff member has been provided with masks and gloves. After hearing the news about Sukhdev dhaba, we have started giving our staff a special kadha with dry ginger, basil, cinnamon etc,” he said.

ThePrint found santisiers at the reception counters of most of these dhabas. Many of them also had thermal screening machines. 

Mannat dhaba’s manager Sushil Sharma said their staff had also undergone Covid tests 15 days ago and nobody was found to be positive. 

“We are taking all the precautions…but after the Amrik Sukhdev case, we are scared,” Sharma said.

Contact-tracing underway

According to district officials, thousands of people had visited the two popular dhabas in the last one week, but the exact number cannot be traced. 

Speaking to the reporters, District Collector, Sonipat, Shyam Lal Poonia said contact-tracing has begun. 

“We had directed the dhabas to keep a record of the visitors… The administration is also enquiring whether the SOPs were properly followed or not,” he said. 

Poonia added the dhabas will remain sealed until contact-tracing exercise is over. 

Haryana Friday reported 1,884 cases, taking the total infection tally to 71,983 and death toll to 759.


Also read: Covid deaths increasing only in Delhi & Karnataka among 5 high-burden states, says govt


 

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