FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government has now put the onus of keeping a watch on home quarantined persons on the local bodies, who will also have to continuously inquire about their health.
With the rising numbers of incoming travellers by rail, road and domestic flights in view of the relaxation in lockdown guidelines, the number of home quarantined persons has also been increasing and State has limited resources for testing and institution quarantine.
Against this backdrop, the State government has now specified the role of the local bodies and ward members, which has been prepared by Goa Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development (GIPARD).
What these instructions say
As per the instructions, the house in which any member has been home quarantined, will be prominently marked by the local health authority. The ward member must remain vigilant and in contact with such persons, so that they do not jump home quarantine.
The ward members need to create a database of all such persons under home quarantine and their immediate family members, to enable quick communication and to attend to their needs, if any.
“The local body representatives as well as the members of the committees’ of such local body should maintain vigil and monitor the movements of such persons in home quarantine. The other members of the household are also expected to maintain quarantine,” it says.
Further, since such persons are not able to move around or leave their home premises, each ward member should endeavour to arrange for their needs in terms of essential supplies, groceries, medicines etc.
“The local body should carry out awareness within the local community in the immediate neighbourhood, on the importance of home quarantining and that the neighbourhood and the ward, should cooperate and not socially ostracize or stigmatise such persons or their family members. Any attempt to cause problems to such persons will invite action under provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005,” it says.
The local health authorities will be in constant communication with such persons and enquire about their health conditions. In case of any information of adverse health conditions of such persons, the ward member should immediately report the matter to the local PHC/CHC/UHC, GPARD adds.
The local body members should keep track of any unknown person(s) or non-resident(s) arriving in the locality or ward for the purpose of residency; identify the premises where they are located and inform the health and police authorities, so that they may carry out verification checks etc.
“In the event any home quarantine person is found to be venturing out of the home premises, such person should be reported to the police and health authorities immediately, for taking action to quarantine the entire family at a paid institutional quarantine facility,” it adds.
