Coronavirus: Maha govt takes bizarre step to identify those under home quarantine amid scare over pandemic

The Maharashtra government has decided that all people under ‘home quarantine’ for suspected exposure to the coronavirus will be stamped on the left hand. The state government stated that the left hand of all persons under home quarantine will be stamped to identify them easily in case they blend with the general public.

The unprecedented announcement comes as the Covid-19 cases in the state soared to 39 – the highest in India – on Monday. In an official statement, the government dubbed the decision as a preventative measure.

Greater Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner Pravin Pardeshi has issued an order to all officials at hospital and the airport, asking them to ‘stamp’ on the palm of the home-quarantined person concerned, the date of isolation, with ink that would stay for 14 days.

The Chief Minister of the state, Uddhav Thackrey also suggested that those who have been home quarantine must by choice hold back from stepping out in public to avert any risk to others.

According to rules of conduct, people coming from coronavirus affected regions are being put under home quarantine as a preventive measure while there samples are sent for assessment.

In a separate dicision, the Maharashtra government has also made it a punishable offence if any person attempts to escape the compulsory quarantine, or break ‘home quarantine’ and would forcibly move such person to a government quarantine facility.

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