Unhygienic paid quarantine facilities for seafarers draw flak

Team Herald

MARGAO: The unhygienic conditions prevailing at the paid quarantine facilities for seafarers and foreign returnees by the government have drawn criticism.

The photos of the pathetic situation at these paid quarantine centres were posted on social media.

Those lodged in these hotels claimed that the Government of Goa has failed in complying with the National Centre for Disease Control’s Guidelines for quarantine facilities during COVID-19 pandemic.

“Although an officer in charge is supposed to ensure that quarantine facilities are in compliance as per Annexure-11 of the above guidelines, Goa faced a backlash today as seafarers, who were quarantined in 3 different hotels in Vasco on Wednesday evening, all were in unhygienic condition,” Capt Venzy Viegas alleged.

Three seafarers were kept in a room with no electricity, no water and in paid quarantine facilities in Vasco.

“On raising their voice for being unable to sleep all night due to the fear of contamination in the hotel, the agent made the necessary arrangement to shift them to another paid quarantine hotel at Old Goa. Are not all paid quarantine centres to be of similar standards,” Capt Viegas questioned. 

“Why does one need to adjust/compromise safety in a paid quarantine centre just with a fear that we may lose our jobs”, he asked.

“The change of hotel by taking necessary Collector’s permission and using KTC buses itself is acceptance that the hotels in Vasco were substandard. The government is unable to provide justice to its citizens,” he alleged. 

“Goans coming from UAE, who are kept in a paid quarantine at Colva, are also facing similar unhygienic and unsafe conditions and no one has taken note as yet,” he claimed.