The Mizoram government on Monday allowed home quarantine for returnees clearing rapid antibody tests due to an inadequate number of quarantine centres in the state.
As per reports, returnees seeking home isolation must apply to the district-level COVID-19 task force after obtaining permission from the medical officer or the district medical board subject to clearance of rapid antibody test upon arrival at any designated quarantine centre.
Moreover, the applicant should also furnish the recommendation of the local level or village task force, certifying the availability of dedicated bedroom and toilet facilities for the person to be placed under home quarantine.
Mizoram chief secretary LalnunmawiaChuaungo said that the state government has encouraged home quarantine for people returning from outside as the government quarantine facilities might not be able to accommodate all of them.
He also said that guidelines for home quarantine issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will be strictly observed during the home isolation period.
The state government has set up more than 500quarantine centres, including 170 community halls offered by churches, to accommodate around 14,000 people, a COVID-19 task force official said.
However, the administration needs facilities to accommodate at least 20,000 people if all the stranded Mizoramresidents return to the state, he said.