MOHALI: The non compliance to National Directives & protocols, violations and negligence by the family members/ co-inhabitants of the patient in home isolation can lead to further spread of the pandemic, which will seriously jeopardize human health and safety. So, under Section 34 (c) and (m) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the District Disaster Management Authority finds it is imperative to take additional steps to ensure the control of the spread of the pandemic, informed Girish Dayalan District Magistrate-cum-Chairperson DDMA.
Therefore Self-reporting/ Intimation is now mandatory whereby all residents shall be obligated to immediately intimate the health authorities, by dialing 104 or contacting their nearest Government Hospital/ Local Health Authority (LHA)within 48 hours, in case they are in the knowledge of having come in contact with any positive patient during his infection period.
Besides, no COVID positive patient who is under home isolation shall leave his/ her residence (except for medical emergency) till the period of home isolation is over.
The family members/ co-inhabitants (including domestic help, cooks etc.) of the same unit/ household where the positive patient has been home isolated shall strictly adhere to the health protocol. Moreover, they shall self-quarantine themselves for a period of 5 days and monitor themselves. If they develop any symptoms of COVID, they shall get tested, and leave the house only after a negative test.
For the Resident Welfare Association (RWA)/ Neighbours orders state that it incumbent/ expected that the Resident Welfare Association/ Neighbours inform the Control Room/ Area PS (numbers shall be shared and displayed on the poster of Home Isolation pasted) if there is a breach by any of the residents of the home/ or if there are visitors from outside.
They may however, extend assistance for ensuring home delivery of supplies to the main gate of the home under quarantine, taking all necessary precautions.
Further, no visitors/ guests shall be allowed into a home where a patient is under home isolation. Such visitors/ guests shall be jointly and severally liable for criminal action.
For Containment Zones/ Micro Containment Zones (CZs/ MCZs) it has been laid down that all residents in the containment zones/ micro-containment zones, are prohibited from exiting the zone for any purpose or for allowing any person to enter the containment zone (except emergency medical aid and provision of essential supplies and services).
Further, given the Government’s endeavor to conduct mandatory 100% testing in containment zones, no person shall resist/ decline giving their sample to the health authorities for the purpose of COVID19 test.
Besides, all shall adhere to orders passed under Section 144 to related to public gatherings or curfew. All those who are found to be violating these orders are liable to having their vehicles impounded.
Any person violating these directions shall be criminally liable for proceedings under Section 51 of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and under Section 269, 270 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 besides other provisions of the law.