COVID-19 outbreak: Student bodies bat for institutional quarantine centres
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 12 2020: With many stranded Manipuris back home and many more on their way amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, the State Government and health authorities advising the returnees to undergo home quarantine is unfortunate and it manifests giving up responsibility, asserted six student bodies today.

Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) and Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) in a joint statement said that the returnees from the coronavirus hit States should be strictly kept under observation at Government instituted quarantine centres or community quarantine centres for at least 14 days before they are sent home.

Government advising home quarantine is risky.

The chance of COVID-19 returning cannot be ruled out at this point of time when the total number of infected cases in India has risen beyond 70,000 .

Government/health authorities advising home quarantine may become a fatal mistake that compromises the measures that the State has been taking up all along, said the student bodies.

With the launch of the evacuation mission, many stranded Manipuris have come back.

More will be coming back in the days to come.

Now, the most important objective of the Government should be keeping the State free of COVID-19 .

To maintain this, Government should focus on setting up enough quarantine centres, arranging adequate medical equipment and facilities and ensuring proper care of the returnees at the centres.

Considering the risk associated with home quarantine as almost all houses lack proper facilities, there is also rising need for wider community participation and institution of quarantine centres at village level, said the student bodies.

Moreover, all engaged in the Government quarantine centres and community quarantine centres should strictly practice and follow the guidelines and protocol laid down by the health authorities to effectively house the returnees.

Proper medical facilities should be made available at the health staff's disposal at the centres, said the student bodies adding they will be closely monitoring the management of the centres.

The student bodies also strongly condemned the racial attack on a 19-year-old Manipuri girl at Gurugram in Haryana on May 10.Denouncing racial profiling and discrimination, the bodies said that people should fight COVID-19 as one.

The virus knows no boundary, colour or caste, it infects all regardless of which community one belongs to, the bodies said appealing all to refrain from posting negative comments on social media platforms that may undermine any community.

Meanwhile, the State Government should also arrange evacuation plans to send back stranded migrant workers and students of other States in Manipur, the student bodies said.

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