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Compulsory facility quarantine for those coming from red zone

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 7: With an asymptomatic person who had returned from Ajmer testing positive for COVID 19 in the State yesterday, Assam government today decided to put under mandatory quarantine all those arriving from red zone areas till they are tested for the novel coronavirus.

With the government allowing return of stranded people to their respective states, Assam had been advising home quarantine for asymptomatic returnees.

�However, from now on, all those who return from red zone areas, even if asymptomatic, will be under facility quarantine till we are sure that they are not carrying the virus,� health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

This decision will also result in limiting the number of people entering the State every day.

�We will have to restrict the number of passes every day as we do not have sufficient institutional quarantine facilities. The number of people who will be allowed entry every day will depend on the capacity of the testing labs,� he said.

So far, passes have been issued to 2056 people returning in their own vehicles, and passes for another 3420 are under process.

Yesterday, one Faridul Islam, a noted criminal, who has visited Ajmer Sharif Dargah, reached Silchar along with 41 others in a bus which was issued a pass by the administration of the Rajasthan district.

�It is surprising how the DC allowed 35 adults and seven children to travel in one bus. All were sent to home quarantine initially and the samples of this person were taken on suspicion and it turned out to be positive for COVID 19. Now, the remaining 41 have been brought to facility quarantine and tests are being conducted,� Sarma said.

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