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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.
Wages to quarantine centre inmates!
Inmates in #COVID19 quarantine centres can undertake various tasks like gardening, paint works for which they will be paid wages by #Odisha govt; 10 days' work will be provided during the 21-day stay in quarantine: Odisha Govt spokesperson pic.twitter.com/STJgHAQi9q
— OTV (@otvnews) May 8, 2020
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.
In consultation with health experts and considering various reports about COVID-19 incubation period, as a matter of abundant caution, the State government has decided that henceforth, the quarantine period for all the people returning to Odisha will be 28 days at Temporary Medical Camps (TMC). However, depending on satisfactory conduct during the institutional quarantine and health after 21 days of mandatory institutional quarantine, the quarantinee may be allowed Home Quarantine for the remaining 7 days. During the period of home quarantine, the concerned person shall strictly observe the prescribed SOP for home quarantine and in case of any violation, stringent penal action will be taken against him/her. GPNO/ WNO will verify and ensure that the people in home quarantine follow the prescribed protocols without any violation.
TMC in-charge may involve the quarantinees in food preparation, campus cleanliness, sanitation of the facility, development of the campus and its facilities like repair works of the TMC, levelling/ development of nearby playground as well as plantation within and near the TMC campus. In case the quarantinees contribute voluntary service for such activities, incentives of Rs 150 per day for up to 10 days (i.e. up to INR 1500 per quarantinee), as honorarium will be paid from CMRF.
TMC in-charge will engage the quarantinees in maintaining good physical and mental health by organising yoga, cultural activities, book reading and storytelling, drawing and painting competitions and other such activities with the support of local NGOs, CSOs, teachers, anganwadi workers, health workers and volunteers registered under COVID Sangrami portal. Further, the GPNO/ WNO will issue certificate for good behaviour, discipline and voluntary contribution for select quarantinees on basis of their behaviour, conduct and participation in voluntary works during the quarantine period.
- Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.
