64 city hotels being used for institutional COVID-19 quarantine: DC

GUWAHATI: As many as 64 hotels of Guwahati are being used as institutional quarantine centres in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. Apart from these, there are approximately 2,600 people in home quarantine in the metropolitan city. This is what Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu has told The Sentinel.

In an interview with The Sentinel on Thursday, the DC said, "We've declared quarantined zones in areas in Guwahati from where COVID-19 positive cases have been detected. Such a measure is taken not to allow the spread of the virus from such areas to other areas. Till now Guwahati has nine containment zones that are under strict vigil of police personnel who don't allow anyone to go in or go out.

"At the quarantine facility at Sarusajai in Guwahati the number of people changes every day. Today there are around 500 people. We prefer males to quarantine there and the females in various hotels in the city. We send children below ten years of age, pregnant women, people above 65 years of age and specially-able people for home quarantine, taking undertakings from them. Along with such people, their family members have to stay in home quarantine. As many as 64 hotels in Guwahati are also being used as quarantine centres. If anyone wants to stay quarantined in hotels, he or she can as the State government has reached an agreement with the hoteliers. They can stay in hotels at minimum rates as fixed by the State government.

"Such hotels have to obey all quarantine rules. They're under strict vigil of police personnel, two in each of such hotels, besides private security personnel. For health requirements health service providers visit them from time to time."

On stranded people of the State returning from other States of the county by trains, Pegu said, "Two trains – Shramik Special and Rajdhani Express – are set to arrive in the State tonight. As many as 389 people, including 67 of Kamrup (M), will land in Assam tonight."

"The people comprising the team Kamrup (M) district administration have been working in unison. All phone calls and queries through our helpline numbers are attended to regularly. Even as this is a new experience for us, we're well equipped to face the eventuality." The Deputy Commissioner said that he had gone to each and every place that reported corona positive cases. "I appeal to all to remain safe and stay indoors without venturing out unnecessarily. This is a different experience in life. This is a different page of experience in life for me as well," he said.

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