West Bengal: Isolation at home for Covid positive flyers

KOLKATA: Passengers coming from at-risk countries to Bengal as well as the rest of the nation, who test positive on arrival, need not be admitted at a hospital or isolation centre anymore and can be treated at home, as per the revised guidelines issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare that’s set to come into effect from Saturday.
The development has come as a huge relief particularly for flyers who were coming back home via bubble arrangements to different cities before taking a domestic flight to reach home in Bengal.
“It will certainly act as a confidence booster to travellers who feared of getting separated from the family or being unable to meet their close ones upon reaching India, if they tested positive and were forced to be admitted to a hospital. Now, even if someone tests positive, the traveller can remain in home isolation for the stipulated period like other patients, under the supervision of his family or loved ones,” said Anil Punjabi, chairman (East), Travel Agents Federation of India while welcoming the development.
The ministry’s revised protocol for international arrivals will come into effect from January 22. The other rules remain essentially the same.