Covid-19: Odisha to use indelible ink to stamp people in quarantine

Sujit Kumar Bisoyi | TNN | Apr 23, 2020, 20:49 IST

Representative image.

BHUBANESWAR: As 14-days quarantine period has been made mandatory for every person returning to Odisha from outside after completion of lockdown restrictions on May 3, all quarantined persons in Odisha will be stamped with date in indelible ink for better community monitoring.
As per the estimate of the state government, around 7.5 lakh people including migrant workers, professionals, students, stranded pilgrims and patients are expected to return to Odisha after May 3. While around 5 lakh people are expected to return to the rural areas, nearly 2.5 lakh persons may return to urban areas.
The returnees will be stamped on their left hand by using indelible ink, which would last for more than 14 days. State special relief commissioner PK Jena has issued guidelines in this regard.
Jena has asked the state panchayati raj department to procure indelible ink from Mysore, use of which by the health authorities to stamp individuals for quarantine activities has been allowed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
“Since a huge number of persons are expected to return to the state after lifting of lockdown curbs, we need involvement of community to ensure that every person coming to state is put in quarantine at least for 14 days. The purpose to stamp is to mention that a person is in quarantine and date on which the quarantine period ends. It’s a precautionary measure. The move will ensure that people during quarantine should refrain from stepping outside,” a senior government officer told TOI.
States like Maharashtra and Karnataka have adopted similar practices earlier to monitor home quarantine of suspected Covid-19 cases.
The state government has made elaborate arrangements both for the rural and urban areas anticipating huge influx of people after May 3. The mandatory registration process of those returning to the state would start on Friday.
While home or self quarantine facilities are not allowed in rural areas, the state government may allow self-quarantine facilities in urban areas.
In many places, hotels have been identified as quarantine facilities on use and pay basis. Persons, wish to use such paid quarantine facilities will be allowed in urban area.
“The expenditure on such paid quarantine facility shall be borne by the person concerned The authorities should make detailed arrangements for proper monitoring of the quarantined persons,“ said the guidelines issued by Jena.
In case any person will be allowed for home quarantine in urban areas, stickers will be affixed on the front of the house, which has already been done earlier.
For monitoring of the quarantined persons in rural areas, the state panchayati raj department has decided to constitute committees at the panchayat-level.
“The Sarpanches will head the committee that would ensure social distancing, hygiene and monitor activities of those put in quarantine,” said state panchayati raj minister Pratap Jena.
Meanwhile, state health and family welfare minister Naba Das said Odia people stuck in different states should be tested for Covid-19 before they are allowed to return to Odisha after lockdown.
Demanding an inter-stater committee of ministers for testing of migrant workers before allowing them to move, the health minister said he will raise the issue during the videoconferencing of all state health ministers with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday.