Assam: FIR against nursing home over violations

GUWAHATI: An FIR has been registered against a private nursing home in eastern Assam's Golaghat district for violating Covid-19 protocols. A civil society group, Golaghat Sanmilita Nagarik Mancha, in the complaint said the nursing home, which was declared a "restricted area" after many of their staff tested positive, had discharged a newborn baby and her mother without the consent of the district administration.
"Violating the Covid protocols laid down by the Centre and state government, the nursing home has become involved in fuelling community transmission of the virus. Such acts have carried a threat to public health and triggered panic," the FIR lodged at Golaghat Sadar Police Station read. The members of the civil society group have been called for recording their statements on Saturday.
Besides this incident, it has also come to light that the nursing home had been allowing two laboratory technicians, who are employed by the government to collect swab samples in the district, to work illegally at their facility. The technicians, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, had been using a biometric machine to record their attendance. In violation of Covid-19 protocols which state that biometric machines should not be used during these times as it helps spread the virus, the nursing home continued using it. Investigating officials said the two laboratory technicians, who were supposed to be inside a quarantine facility, have infected several medical staff of the nursing home after the duo went to the private hospital and used the biometric machine. The two lab technicians should have been under quarantine when the incident took place.