KOTTAYAM: A driver from Tamil Nadu who reached a fruits shop at Chanthakadavu in the district has been placed under isolation on suspicion of COVID-19. He drove till Palakkad and after suspicion of having contracted COVID, officials of health department and police jointly closed the wholesale fruits shop and then sealed it. He was tired when he reached Palakkad and handed over the steering to the second driver and he in turn drove the vehicle carrying fruits till Kottayam. After unloading fruits to the wholesale shop, the second driver returned.

Only when the lorry reached Ernakulam, the second driver knew that the main driver has been hospitalised on suspicion of the disease. With this, the second driver was placed under surveillance. However, the police in Palakkad informed the news to the police in Kottayam. Following the information, the police and the health department sealed the shop. The lorry was carrying water melons, oranges and grapes from Tamil Nadu.