District officials authorised to requisition private hotels, lodges

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 31 (EMN): Nagaland government has empowered the district administration to claim private hotels, lodges, and guesthouses as quarantine facilities if found suitable, to prepare necessary infrastructure to combat the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

The department of Health and Family Welfare in its March 31 office memorandum stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Nagaland Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) Regulations, 2020 under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, section 19 (vii) & (ix), the government hereby accord approval to the district administration to requisition building such as hotels, lodges, guesthouses etc., run by private or NGOs, if found suitable to use as quarantine facilities.”

It added that the requisition will include all existing services and facilities such furnishing amenities, catering services etc.

The memo, signed by the principal secretary to the government of Nagaland stated that “the district task force will identify such private facilities as quarantine facilities and to operationalise the facility as and when required in conformity with extant SOP and to intimate the same to the directorate of Health and Family Welfare”.

This was required as, in some areas, suitable government buildings may not be available to use as quarantine facility or as a measure to enhance the preparedness capacity may require more quarantine facilities.

The Kohima Hotels and Restaurants Union in its meeting held on March 17 had decided not to allow hotels and restaurants to be used as quarantine facilities. Meantime, it also decided to give cooperation to the department and state government as and when need arises. An executive member from the union said that they will have to obey the government instructions.