Morung Express news
Kohima | June 10
Some returnees have alleged that some fellow returnees have already been 'unfairly released' from institutional quarantine centres. Chennai returnees quarantining at Meriema said that co-passengers in the same compartment had already gone home after their 14 days institutional quarantine while they are still in quarantine.
Narrating the incident, a person claimed to have spoken to a co-passenger over the phone since they were being taken for a second test today only to receive a casual reply that they were already home because they had completed their quarantine period. “We usually meet on the bus while being taken for test, but around 4 of them did not come this time,” the person told The Morung Express.
The person also claimed that those who were released were children of medical practitioners and officials in the medical department. “We may be positive but asymptomatic and healthy and might think that we may not get the virus but we are still risking the community by taking advantage of power,” the person added.
The state government officials meanwhile said that contact tracing was done and second test has been conducted for those on high risk. However, the person claimed that they shared the same compartment with those already at home and questioned the criteria for contact tracing while and raised concerns over the general safety.
State spokesperson for COVID-19, Mmhonlumo Kikon said that irrespective of returnees from Chennai or other Northeast states, many returnees have been overstaying at quarantine centres. He added that release can be made only after clearance is given by the Medical Department. In the latest order issued by the office of the Chief Secretary on June 9, the government has approved the release of individuals from Kohima, Tuensang and Wokha district with strict conditions.
However, as per the claims made, in spite of returning from the same city (Chennai), some of them were released from institutional quarantine centres right after the 14 days period while the rest of them in Kohima are in their 19th day of quarantine.
