All paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, the ITBP, and the BSF, have been advised to keep ready quarantine camps for COVID-19 suspects as a preparatory measure, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said here on Sunday.
As of now, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) isoperating a camp which can house about 500 people near Delhi for the quarantinepurpose and the facility has released two batches of people so far.
“We have given instructions to all our paramilitaryforces across the country to keep the quarantine facilities at their respectiveareas in case of any requirement. We have identified certain centres also forthe camps and they are ready. They can accommodate any number of people as willbe required by the Health Ministry,” Reddy told reporters.
The quarantinecamps are to keep the people who came to Indiafrom coronavirus-affected countries for a period of 14 days to prevent thespread of the virus in case they carry it.
He said the ministries of Health and External Affairs havebeen appointed as pilot organisations to tackle COVID-19.
According to him, the Centre has been issuing advisories toall the states as and when necessary.
“India shares large border area with China, theepicentre of coronavirus spread. Due to measures being taken by the Indiangovernment, the virus presence in the country is very less vis-a-vis thepopulation, he claimed.
Reddy said there will be key announcements by the Unionhealthministry on the roadmap for the country on the measures that should be takento prevent further spread of the novel coronavirus.
After a fresh case of the coronavirus on Saturday, takingthe total number of confirmed cases in Telangana to two, the state governmenthas announced a slew of measures, including closure of all educationalinstitutions till March 31, to prevent the spread of the pandemic.