Guwahati:
Assam Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, emphasizing the need for thorough quarantine amid a rising number of cases of the dreaded coronavirus, has opined that no less than 12 lakh stranded citizens could return to Assam in the coming days. "What we are witnessing", Sarma said, "is the tip of the iceberg".
Announcing the Assam Government's new policy of Ruthless Quarantine with a Human Heart, Sarma said that quarantine will be 'ruthless' for anyone irrespective of post or power. "However, during quarantine, we will try to keep them in comfort", Sarma informed media.
Sarma also added that all the payment based quarantine facilities have been discontinued in Assam. "The Government will bear costs, but we will not make compromise in regards to quarantine", Sarma said. Adding that whoever comes to Assam must be prepared for quarantine, Sarma said that the people, as a precautionary measure, will be kept in quarantine for 14 days which will consist of both home and institutional quarantine.
While the person is in institutional quarantine, Sarma announced, upto Rs 500 will be spent on his/her food per day. If the returnees are kept in hotels by the district administration, upto Rs 2000 can be spent per head, he further informed..
The Minister also added that if a person has come from a green zone and tests have yielded a 'negative' result, he/she can leave for home quarantine after 7 days. For the next 7 days, the person will be quarantined at home and his family will also be quarantine with him. For this period, an additional sum of Rs 2,000 shall be given to him/her from the coffers of the Government. The local village-level officials have been mobilized to ensure that home quarantined is thoroughly observed, Sarma further added.
It may be mentioned here that Assam has so far reported 199 cases of the virus, and four deaths. The first case was detected on March 31 in a man from Karimganj district.