India Is Now Hand-Stamping People Who Are Suspected To Have COVID-19 Infections

After an all-day curfew was observed by the entire nation
Sunday, millions of Indians are remaining on lockdown
because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

You will find more infographics at Statista

And now, as if the coronavirus containment scenes from
around the world weren’t dystopian enough, the disturbing imagery
continues in India, where those suspected of having the
coronavirus are now being given hand stamps, according to
Reuters. 

The same people are also being tracked using their
mobile phones and personal data in order for the government to help
enforce quarantines. The tracking effort raises obvious questions
about both privacy and mass surveillance. 

More than 200 people have been infected with coronavirus in
India, and there had been four official deaths as of yesterday. But
officials continue to report cases of people fleeing
quarantine.

This prompted the government to institute hand stamping, using
indelible ink. The stamps are being used on people arriving at
airports in the western state of Maharashtra and southern
Karnataka state. The stamps show the date a person must
remain under home quarantine and say “proud to protect” on
them. 

Supreme Court lawyer N S Nappinai said: “When I first heard of
the stamping in Mumbai, I thought it was fake news. I understand
the concern but where does one draw the line? Should fundamental
rights be suspended in an emergency like this?”

The Indian government is also using citizen and
reservation data from airlines to track people. 

Archana Valzade, under secretary in Maharashtra’s health
department said: “We found people who were stamped and were
traveling. They had signed a self-declaration that they will not
travel because they could be carriers of coronavirus. It is their
duty as well to stop the infection. Stamping is essential
and very useful to reduce the spread.”

Amar Fettle, who is heading the coronavirus control team in
Kerala said: “People have been jumping quarantine and it has been
a challenge to track them. But we have formed hundreds of
squads, including policemen to track and ensure people follow the
norms.”

Hospital physician Armida Fernandez concluded: “As a doctor who
has worked in the public health service and in the community, I
find people are not realizing the seriousness of the pandemic.
Knowing the situation of public health in India and that we are
dealing with 1.3 billion people … I am for the steps the
government is taking.”