Govt to tighten watch on home-quarantined persons

Indelible ink would be used to stamp the hand of home-isolated Covid-positive patients in Bengaluru and Quarantine Watch app will be used again

The government will soon bring back tight restrictions, including surveillance, for people who test positive for Covid-19 as well as those under quarantine to check violations.

Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Thursday tha0t indelible ink would be used to stamp the hand of home-isolated Covid-positive patients in Bengaluru and the government will keep track of home-quarantined persons with the Quarantine Watch app which was deployed last year.

"Previously, there would be a seal on home-quarantined people's hands. Now, this will make a comeback due to the second wave. We will see to it that the seal is made with indelible ink and not erased with any solution. The stamping process will begin in a couple of days," the minister said, in response to questions about people being able to easily erase it last year during the first wave of the pandemic.

Read | Covid-19: You'll need RT-PCR negative report to enter Bengaluru from April 1

Since home-quarantined individuals are breaching quarantine frequently, the home quarantine app will be in use again, Sudhakar said.

"Most Covid-positive individuals are in the age group of 20 to 40 years of age. And mortalities are being observed in older age groups. The app, previously used to monitor them, will be in use again. This is so that they don't breach quarantine and endanger others," he said.