SHILLONG: The government on Saturday expressed its helplessness in providing institutional quarantine to the returnees to the state saying the number of beds is far too less compared to the thousands coming back.
As many as 400 returnees recently created a flutter after they ventured out of their homes breaking quarantine protocol.
Talking to media persons here, Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek urged the people, who are under home quarantine, to be disciplined and adhere to the advisories.
He also said that the government has taken necessary action to improve the home-quarantine system.
Asked if any action would be taken against the violators, he replied in the negative, but said that the protocols must be followed by all and any violation must be reported to the government.
Responding to a query on apprehension over the government’s decision to allow the returnees to go for home quarantine instead of institutional quarantine, he said,”We have less than1000 beds in the corona care and isolation centres, but people are returning in thousands, so tell me what can we do,” he asked in a helpless tone.
Realising that the number of returnees is huge, the government has urged communities to set up quarantine centres locally.
Stating that many hotels and guest houses in the state have been requisitioned as quarantine centres, he added that anyone who comes from outside is now classified as someone coming from red zone and they are being asked to go for 28 days of home quarantine.
It may be mentioned that as many as 400 people, who recently arrived in the state, violated the home-quarantine protocols by venturing out in the open and they were traced through an app of the state government and by its health volunteers.
A citizen has also moved the High Court of Meghalaya seeking a stay on the decision of the state government for home quarantine of the returnees to the state, particularly from the red zones where the incidence of the pandemic is high, and instead, has called for institutional quarantine.