GODAGHODI: Sudurpaschim State Health Director Dr Guna Raj Awasthi has expressed his concern that quarantine centers in the State could turn into ‘incubators’ for COVID -19.
He said that the local governments who took up the responsibility for setting up of quarantine centers failed to meet the standards and fear was looming large that the centers could be the ‘hotspots’ for the virus spread.
He said that number of people returning from India with infections has increased. Though most of the local levels have geared up for the management of returnees by developing public schools into quarantine facilities, the risk of virus spread has upped with the sub-standard management of quarantine facilities.
Besides, peoples are allowed to enter the country without test in want of testing kits. According to him, over 90 percent COVID-19 cases are confirmed among returnees from India in the State and the infection outbreak is sure to increase.
The quarantine operation and management guidelines-2076 BS requires availability of a separate room with separate toilet facility for each person and if not possible, a room for three people, one toilet and bathroom for six people and other basic facilities such as electricity, running water, proper bedding, mosquito nets, dustbin, proper space and so on for quarantine dwellers.
It demands additional facilities for children below 10, senior citizens, pregnant and persons with disabilities.
He was of the view of encouraging people to stay at home quarantine as an alternative to the quarantine centers.
‘The concept of home quarantine has been adopted by the countries like the US and UK and it can be promoted in the country as the management of a larger number of returnees seems really challenging,” he added.
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