Kohima, June 7 (MExN): The Nagaland Government has made additions to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for returnees to Nagaland, making it mandatory for district authorities to get the Chief Secretary’s approval for releasing any returnee for undergoing home quarantine.
The revised SOPs will be implemented along with the June 1 SOPs issued by the Health & Family Welfare Department, with immediate effect.
As per the addendum to the SOPs, COVID-19 positive but asymptomatic cases who are fit to travel will be transferred to the respective home district in a separate transport facility and shall not be transported together with negative cases or untested returnees. They will be kept in COVID-19 Care Centre / COVID-19 facility, it said.
It also said that any COVID positive person who have been treated, recovered and tested negative will be discharged and transferred from COVID hospital to his/her home district for undergoing 14 days Home Quarantine.
Further, any returnee in Institutional Quarantine, who is to be released for Home Quarantine, will first be given clearance by the Medical Team at the Quarantine Centre as per the protocol. Thereafter, it will be considered by the District Task Force (DTF) lead by the Deputy Commissioner, following which recommendations will be sent to the Chief Secretary for obtaining his concurrence.
Only after receiving the concurrence of the Chief Secretary, the Deputy Commissioner will issue the approval letter for releasing the returnee,it stated.
“Any returnee who wishes to go for paid quarantine may be allowed to do so, and the person undergoing paid quarantine will be subject to the same provisions of the SOP as applicable to any inmate undergoing Institutional Quarantine,” the notification stated.
Meanwhile, it recommended that respective DTF “may explore the possibility of enlisting support and involvement of tribal bodies, Government Officers'/employees association and faith/community based organizations" for making arrangements for providing food etc. for those at the Quarantine Centres.”
The Health & Family Welfare Department has also been entrusted to identify and empanel suitable private labs within and outside the State, which could also be authorised to carry out testing for COVID-19 on payment at Government approved rates.
It also stated that the DTF will make arrangements to shift quarantined individuals ‘who indulges in unruly / delinquent behaviour or refuses to adhere to the quarantine rules and norms, to the police quarantine facility.’
Further, DTFs have been directed to ensure that full details of the ingress/egress of the returnees at all the Quarantine Centres are made available daily, in advance to the concerned Ministers or Advisors who have been assigned districts and the State War Room on COVID -19 for better coordination.
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