GANGTOK, May 14 - Music is keeping a group of 77 persons entertained at the institutional quarantine centre of the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco-Tourism (IHCAE), Chemchey, in South Sikkim. Two blocks of the IHCAE comprising 21 rooms, are being used as a quarantine facility for those returning to the State from outside. The IHCAE provides adventure-related training courses.
Songs and instrumental music played by frontline workers, including the IHCAE staff, police and medical personnel posted there, fill the air most of the evenings. The melodies are played from the front yard of each block, with the door at the main entrance locked so that people undergoing the mandatory quarantine cannot come out to the front yard and those present on the courtyard cannot go inside.
IHCAE Deputy Director Kazi Sherpa said that he wants everyone involved in the COVID-19 battle to remain in a positive frame of mind and a happy environment. The quarantined people and the officials manning the centre can have some fun and wonderful experience through these cultural shows, Sherpa said.
There is a wall built for imparting training in rock climbing. Police, medical and other workers are also encouraged to use this training facility so that they remain rejuvenated, focused and healthy, Sherpa said.
Once the inmates leave the centre after completing the 14-day quarantine, the IHCAE staff duly disinfect and sanitize the items that have been used.
It may be mentioned here that the Sikkim Government has started the process of bringing back stranded people of the State from May 5 onwards. Those returning to South and West districts enter Sikkim via the Melli check post after which they are taken to a screening centre. Later, they are sent to various quarantine facilities located within the two districts. People belonging to West Sikkim are handed over to the West district administration for conduct of further procedure.
