THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Smiling wildly, the seafarers stepped out of Ginger Hotel on Tuesday morning after completing the 14 days of institutional quarantine since their return to Goa after disembarking from the Marella Discovery cruise ship at Mumbai port. But, there were some grim faces too, they had another 14 days of home quarantine to undergo, which is a part of the health protocol.
“We were tested twice at Mumbai port and on our return to Goa. Both tests were negative despite this all of us were quarantined for 14 days. Now that we have completed institutional quarantine, why an additional 14 days of home quarantine?” asked Adrian D’Souza, speaking to Herald while en route to his residence at Shiroda, on Tuesday evening.
The Goan seafarers, onboard the Marella Discovery, were brought to their homeland via road on April 28 and driven straight to Ginger Hotel, a paid quarantine facility. Swab tests on them for COVID-19 were conducted by the health team, and all the results were negative.
The families of the seafarers thereafter demanded that the government allow the seafarers to return home, but the local administration, including police and health officials, ensured that the 14-day mandatory quarantine period was adhered to. As per the guidelines, all of them have to undergo another 14-day home quarantine process.
The seafarers, however, termed this process ‘harassment’ while pointing at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “You (CM) are a doctor. How can you behave like this? Why are you troubling and harassing us?” D’Souza asked.
His colleague Shamiro Correia also raised an objection to the follow up process. “We have spent more than 40 days on the ship, 14 days in the institution and now another 14 days at home. Why this quarantine period when we have tested negative,” he questioned, as he echoed D’Souza’s views.
“Until four days before completion of our institutional quarantine period, the health officials told us that we will be allowed to move out of our houses. But as we were leaving the hotel, they stamped our hands for home quarantine. We demand action,” the Chinchinim resident said.
Since the seafarers have now joined their family members, they also demanded to know whether the entire family will be home quarantined.
Their stay at the paid quarantine facility was nevertheless smooth with all requirements taken care of. “We had AC rooms and our requirements were heeded to. The staff, including the chef, was good with us,” another seafarer told Herald.
The local administration had ensured that seafarers checked out of the hotel by keeping a time gap so as to avoid crowding of the place. Their family members had arrived to receive them.
Nodal Officer for COVID-19 Dr Utkarsh Bethodkar said that home quarantine period of the seafarers will be monitored.
We were tested twice at Mumbai port and on our return to Goa. Both tests were negative despite this all of us were quarantined for 14 days. Now that we have completed institutional quarantine, why an additional 14 days of home quarantine?
Adrian D’Souza, seafarer from Shiroda
Until four days before completion of our institutional quarantine period, the health officials told us that we will be allowed to move out of our houses. But as we were leaving the hotel, they stamped our hands for home quarantine
Shamiro Correia, seafarer from Chinchinim
