Chinese tourist arrives in Tamil Nadu; sent back to China over coronavirus fear

A 25-year-old Chinese tourist who arrived in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram on Saturday morning was sent back to his home country after locals started panicking over a possible coronavirus infection.

According to a news agency’s report, the man, identified as Sengh, hails from Anhui, a Chinese province which is located about 450 kms from Wuhan, the origin of the coronavirus epidemic. He landed in Kolkata on January 24 using a tourist visa. When he arrived at Rameswaram on Saturday and checked in at a hotel, the frenzied staff alerted the police, who further informed the revenue and health officials. A screening was later conducted on the man and it was determined that he did not show any symptoms of the disease.

A source reportedly told a news agency, “He was not symptomatic and was in good health. In order to avoid a panic situation, he was asked if he was willing to be in isolation for 14 days as per protocol or to leave the country. He agreed hesitantly to return to China.” He boarded his flight back home from Chennai at 6 pm.