With the rise in the number of persons tested with novel coronavirus, apprehension about the spread of the virus at the local level preoccupied with many of the people. Community workers, civil bodies and local leaders are taking the matter with extreme seriousness to the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many had argued on the government’s suggestions for home quarantine to those people who return from outside the state. People and almost all community representatives are of the opinion that Institutional quarantine or Community quarantine for all returnee to the state should be made mandatory. Well, for the people of the state of Manipur, the idea of Institutional or Community quarantine for all returnees to the state is the best option to prevent the spread of the virus at the local level. There is no difference of opinion to the idea of mandatory quarantine for returnee given the living style of Manipuri family notwithstanding the fact that most people in the state are not able to keep separate rooms and toilets for each people. But while trying to protect the people from contracting the virus that has been transported from outside the state, the people have almost forgotten the condition of the returnee and their suffering at the quarantine centers. There are fear mongers among the returnee from getting infected by the virus due to various mismanagement that is being taken place while managing the quarantine centers.
While talking to various persons who are staying at various quarantine centers, the first thing that comes to the knowledge of this newspaper is that those who are not yet tested positive are worried about getting infection with the virus if any of the inmates were tested positive. This is being observed as those running the quarantine centers do not make any special arrangement in terms of providing food or accommodation for other inmates who were yet to be tested after one or two of them were tested positive. This may be because those volunteers who are assisting the quarantine centers have no professional knowledge of running the quarantine centers. The second thing is the consumption of longer time in getting the result. As per the reality, it has come to the notice that inmate often has to gather for food and other day-to-day activities inside the quarantine centers after their samples have been collected. It takes almost 5 days for a maximum of the people in getting their results. In between the five days, there is also the possibility of contracting with the virus from someone who tested positive midway. There is also a possibility that the person who is tested negative with the virus after 5 days may return to his home with the virus at which he contracted from his fellow inmate while waiting for the virus.
Earlier, too MLA L. Susindro of Khurai Assembly Constituency had expressed suspicion of the virus spreading among the returnees after reaching Imphal.
