Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare, Menukhol John through an office memorandum informed that the Government has issued orders to requisition Government buildings as quarantine facilities to prepare necessary infrastructure and tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives.

He said the order was issued to enhance preparedness and containment of the virus following World Health Organisation and the Government declaring COVID-19 as a notified disaster and invoked the Epidemic Disease Act 1897.

He added that in areas where suitable Government buildings are not available to use as Quarantine facility the Government accord approval to the District Administration to requisition building such as Hotels, Lodges, Guest Houses etc run by private or NGOs, if found suitable to use as Quarantine facilities. The requisition shall also include all existing services & facilities such furnishing, amenities, catering services etc.

He further directed the District Task Force to identify such private facilities as Quarantine facilities and to operationalize the facility when required in conformity with extant SOP and to intimate the same to the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare.

(Esuihangle, IA)