ODISHA INCREASES MANDATORY INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE TO 21 DAYS
Bureau,Odishabarta
BHUBANESWAR: With the nature of COVID-19 unfolding more with each passing day, Odisha government too seems to be advancing with fresh developments to curb the menace. State’s spokesman on COVID-19, Subroto Bagchi today informed that the mandatory quarantine period of 14 days for returnees has now been increased to 21 days.
The development comes a day after State government’s health advisor Srinath Reddy proposed for implementation of the new method to battle the pandemic.
“As per scientific evidence observed so far, the incubation period of novel coronavirus (n-CoV) could be as high as 28 days and not 14 days as said earlier. Keeping this in mind, the mandatory (1st phase) quarantine period has now been increased to 21 days, which means the returnees will have to stay at the institutional quarantine for 21 days and then follow home quarantine for the rest seven days,” Bagchi said.
Odisha government has also considered granting wages to the inmates of the COVID-19 quarantine centres. “Inmates in these quarantine centres can undertake various tasks like gardening, paint works for which they will be paid wages by the State government. Those who intend to work will be paid Rs 150 per day for the proposed 10 days’ work during the 21-day stay in quarantine,” added Bagchi.
The official further informed that Sec-144 would be imposed in areas surrounding the institutional quarantine centres which will be under CCTV surveillance.
It is to be mentioned that Srinath Reddy, who also is the President of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), during a VC with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said the preventive or definite treatment for COVID has not been invented yet. However, social distancing, hand sanitization and wearing of masks can act as a shield to combat COVID-19. He also emphasized on community safety and urged special attention to be given to the elderly.
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