‘Wise decision to limit Covid-19 institutional isolation’: RWAs to Delhi L-G

Updating his earlier order, the L-G said said on Twitter after the DDMA meeting: “Regarding institutional isolation, only those COVID positive cases which do not require hospitalisation on clinical assessment & do not have adequate facilities for home isolation would be required to undergo institutional isolation.”

Earlier in the day, the RWA representatives had written to him to ‘re-examine’ the order that he passed Friday making five-day institutional quarantine mandatory for Covid-19 patients. They had urged that those who are able to self-isolate at home be allowed to do so, and local community centres be arranged for the rest.

The representatives of RWAs such as Sarvodaya Enclave, Saket L Block, Defence Colony, Vasant Kunj, NavjiwanVihar, Green Park, Nizamuddin East, Vasant Vihar and Mehrauli etc. have said that the order needed to be examined on various grounds.

READ | All Covid cases to now be put in institutional quarantine in Delhi

“Asymptomatic cases would increase the load further on already overburdened government machinery. It will be impossible to handle the cases in coming times, considering the 5.5 lakhs projected number of active cases in July,” they wrote.

“The infrastructure and resources (beds, health workers, doctors, support staff etc) will not be enough to handle such a huge load both real time and projected. The resources should be utilized for managing sick patients. The sick patients who genuinely require hospitalization will suffer due to the shift of focus of administration in handling the rest of asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic cases,” the representatives added.

Explained: Why is the Delhi government opposing the new guidelines against home isolation?

On Friday, Baijal had issued an order making five days of institutional quarantine “mandatory” for “each case under home quarantine”, while striking down a Delhi government contract with a private home healthcare company for remote monitoring of patients under home isolation.

Echoeing sentiments of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the RWAs had said a “large majority would avoid testing” due to the “fear of being taken away and separated from the family”.

“How will female patients, children, people with disabilities and senior citizens who are vulnerable be sent without their families? They can be subject to exploitative and criminal behaviours in these circumstances. Who will take the responsibility? If families who are negative, are allowed, it will further add to the burden and will also expose the negative members to the risk of contracting infection. Women and young girls can be prey to molestation and sexual exploitation,” they said.

READ | Covid-19: No consensus between Delhi govt, L-G on institutional quarantine, meeting again today

The RWA representatives also argued that “asymptomatic patients will be at risk of contracting other non-COVID communicable diseases from others” and “conditions of hygiene in such facilities with large numbers will definitely be compromised”.

“Positive cases where they have the facility to be in home isolation, will recuperate faster since they will be in familiar surroundings. Majority of patients will still be infective after five days,” they wrote.

“Where space for isolation is possible, people should be allowed to stay at home. Where it is not possible, local community centers should be utilized to make them into practical isolation centers close to home with community stakeholders,” the representatives added.

The Delhi government had termed the L-G’s order as “arbitrary”, and said it will “seriously harm” people. It said the new policy would discourage people from getting tested and further strain the city’s already overstretched medical infrastructure and health workers.

“After this order, we would immediately need thousands of beds in quarantine centres. We have been completely supportive of the Central government in our collective fight against corona, but this arbitrary decision will seriously harm Delhi. They should re-consider,” a Delhi government spokesperson said.

(This copy has been updated)