Assam cabinet approves 'ruthless quarantine' for all entering state

GUWAHATI: Assam cabinet on Tuesday approved ruthless implementation of quarantine protocol and no one arriving from outside the state by air, land or train will be allowed to go home without completing the quarantine period.
“The ruthless quarantine is the only option to wall transmission of Covid-19 in the community,” cabinet minister Chandramohan Patowary said in his briefing.
The cabinet also decided to support the folk artistes of the state who earn the livelihood by perming in religious or cultural functions and have been hit the hardest due to the lockdown. “The cabinet has decided to provide each of them Rs 2,000 per month for three months—April, May, June,” Patowary said.
The cabinet discussed the flood situation in the state and directed deputy commissioners to take all necessary steps to repair embankments and stock essential food items for the flood affected people.
The state quarantine SOP requires every returnee to strictly observe seven days of facility quarantine or till his test report with negative result come and then proceed for home quarantine for the remaining days of the 14-days quarantine period. During the period of home quarantine, the entire household will be put under home quarantine and no family member can leave the house. A person will be allowed to go on home quarantine from institutional quarantine only after his test result is negative.
Earlier, when the inflow of people was minimal, everyone was put in institutional quarantine for the entire 14 days.
There are few exceptions though. People arriving by and returning on the same day will not be quarantined. A category of travellers, who are exempted from institutional quarantine, but not from 14-day home quarantine are pregnant women, people above 75 years of age, the differently abled, people with children below 10 years, and people who have come to visit their parents or immediate family members who are in hospitals and people coming to attend last rites of their parents or immediate family members.
Even visiting VVIPs, including governors, Union ministers or ministers of other states who arrive will be exempted from general quarantine norms, but will have to stay in government bhawans or guest houses and have to comply with all social distancing and hygiene norms during their stay in the state.