As those who had been put under quarantine go home after completing their quarantine period the Srinagar administration is drawing considerable praise not just for the facilities provided at quarantine centres but also for the decision to shift overseas-return persons thereinto on their arrival.Each group of persons discharged from quarantine so far has expressed gratitude to the administration for top-class facilities covering all needs and making them feel at home during their quarantine period.In contrast with initial hesitations that some had having to undergo quarantine upon their return from overseas countries all these persons upon coming out appreciated the decision to isolate them to ensure that if someone had it the infection did not spread — a realisation that has come into being as increasing number of COVID-19 cases are coming to fore in the region.The appreciation became evident as soon as the first group of 78 persons — who had returned from Leh — came out after completing their quarantine on March 31 and clapped at the officials and showered praise on and expressed gratitude to the administration for taking care of them.These scenes were repeated on April 1 and 2 and 3 when 236, 324 and 488 more persons were discharged from different quarantine facilities after completing their two-week quarantine periods.Today when another group of 287 persons — most of whom are students and had returned from Bangladesh like those before — were discharged the administration's decision to shift them into administrative quarantine received a sort of stamp of appreciation as outgoing persons wrote messages of gratitude for the district administration.
Speaking after being discharged from quarantine almost all persons who spoke on the occasion expressed feelings of confidence going to their home and without apprehensions of causing their loved ones harm which existed before.It is notable that all of these persons as well as those who are still under quarantine in the district had been shifted into 42 well-equipped quarantine facilities established in three-star hotels and other top accommodations — and provided top-class facilities covering all needs and requirements from food and personal care to medical-care.Each quarantine centre has a dedicated group of officials looking after its needs — with an elaborate backend support apparatus catering to all requirements as raised. Their management takes place at different levels — with a top officer taking care of things at each level.Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar M Haneef Balkhi who has been designated as overall incharge of all quarantine facilities established in the district along with SDMs East and West Sandeep Singh Bali and Hamida Akhter oversee operations of all quarantine facilities to ensure all their requirements are covered.Balkhi also oversees discharge of persons from quarantine and their transportation to their homes or home districts. The former cannot take place without a final medical assessment of each person to be discharged and a formal clearance from doctors.Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary - who has set up a vast response mechanism in the district aimed at containing spread of COVID-19 disease and also dealing with the situation that has arisen out of it - monitors all these efforts to ensure their success.Speaking on the occasion of discharging of persons from quarantine Friday he said the situation demanded isolation of all those arriving in Srinagar from overseas countries but the plan included ensuring comfort along with medical-care for all these persons.Dr Shahid said that as far as medical-care is concerned all these persons put under quarantine remain under thorough medical supervision throughout their quarantine period and are discharged only after clearance from doctors and health authorities.It should be noted that all the overseas-return persons in administrative quarantine in the district will complete their quarantine period next week.Shifting of overseas-return persons into quarantine facilities was part of Srinagar administration's elaborate preventive measures put in place in the district to contain spread of the COVID-19 disease.