Maharashtra: No home isolation for COVID-19 patients; quarantine centre must

In view of the surge in coronavirus cases across the state, the Maharashtra government has disallowed the option of home isolation for patients suffering from COVID-19.

Moreover, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has stated that institutional quarantine is an absolute must in areas that have a high COVID-19 positivity rate. "We have decided to stop home isolation for patients of 18 districts where the positivity rate is high. The patients from these districts will have to go to a quarantine centre, won't be allowed home isolation," said Tope.

According to sources, a meeting of 18 District Collectors, Police Officers and Health Officers was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. After the same, Tope gave this information while talking to the media.

राज्यातील कोरोनासह म्युकर मायकोसिसच्या परिस्थितीवरील उपाययोजनांबाबत आढावा बैठक घेतली. कोरोना संसर्गाची साखळी तोडण्यासाठी रुग्णांच्या गृहविलगीकरणाऐवजी संस्थात्मक विलगीकरणावर भर द्या. संसर्गीताच्या संपर्कातील हाय-रिस्क, लो-रिस्क व्यक्तींच्या कोरोना चाचणीवर भर देण्याचं सूचित केलं. pic.twitter.com/tKtZhBCvvO

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) May 25, 2021

Meanwhile, in order to implement the same, the number of COVID-19 centres will be increased. This decision is touted to safeguard the families of the citizens who are suffering from mild symptoms of the coronavirus.

Here is the list of the 18 districts in which home isolation will not be allowed:

• Pune
• Satara
• Solapur 
• Mumbai city 
• Mumbai suburbs
• Thane
• Sindhudurg
• Raigad
• Aurangabad
• Osmanabad
• Beed
• Hingoli
• Latur
• Nanded 
• Amravati
• Akola 
• Dhule
• Nagpur

On the other hand, the Maharashtra government on Monday, May 24, indicated that the lockdown in the state would be gradually eased after June 1. This comes as Maharashtra witnessed a fall in the number of coronavirus cases and a decline in positivity rate.

Moreover, the state government is likely to give relaxation in shop timings and may also allow shops dealing in non-essential items to remain open for limited timings.

Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar mentioned while the government would not relax the strict curbs in the red zone that are active in the 15 districts, it would consider relaxation in other districts.

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