Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara : Four persons who tested negative for novel Coronavirus undergoing administrative quarantine JNV Puthshai, Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district alleged that that they are not getting proper care in the quarantine.
They said they are being served “unhygienic food and contaminated water” which increases the chances of getting more exposed to infections.
According to Wire Service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the four negative tested persons complained about the less attention of authorities towards the people put under administrative quarantine in absence of basic facilities.
They said they have undergone tests for coronavirus and their reports have come out negative. “We don’t understand under which protocol our quarantine has been extended when our results have already come out negative,” one of the persons told KNO on phone.
He said that keeping “many people in one single room together defeats the concept of social distancing and quarantine.” He said that the administrative officials assigned to give them care do not visit the facility. Another person undergoing quarantine said that they fear the transmission from other suspects who come there day after day.
They said they have completed the home quarantine of two weeks and tested negative three days back and still being put in quarantine betrays the reason for testing.
“After being brought to the quarantine center from our homes, all of us spent a night here, the next morning medical teams drove us to government medical college (GMC) Baramulla where medical experts on attending us advised not to undergo COVID-19 tests,” they said.
“The officials stationed here have deprived us of basic facilities,” they said, “We don’t get good food. The meals served aren’t fit for health. Even the water we get is contaminated and should be boiled first before given to us.”
They complained of lack of cleanliness. “We have one bathroom for four people and it does not have hot water supply,” they said. “We have not bathed or changed clothes all these days.”
Nodal officer for Coronavirus in Kupwara, Nazir Ahmad Lone told KNO that the issue they faced in absence of hygienic food and water stands will be resolved on priority. “I have personally told the Sectoral officer (SDM), Lolab to visit the center and make arrangements of all the demands.”
He said in recent days we have reported cases with no symptoms for over two to three weeks even after observing the quarantine period that’s why all of them have been kept under quarantine as preventive measure. Nodal officer furthermore said that in a day or two they’ll be allowed to go home after proper check from authorities—(KNO)
