Hotel like facilities being provided at govt facilities

Ludhiana: The persons returning from foreign countries have said that the Punjab government is providing government like facilities for them, which are more than they actually expected. “Punjab government is providing hotel like facilities to us at the government facilities,” said Dubai-returned Harpreet Kaur, who is staying at Parker House at PAU, here. She said that she is related to village Gujjarwal and was staying in Dubai on a work permit for the last 7 years, but due to COVID 19, she lost her job and has now returned to her village.
She said that as per the directions of health department, she is under quarantine and is satisfied with the kind of facilities here. She said that she had thought that upon reaching Punjab, she would have to stay in costly hotels, but was happy to see that hotel like facilities are being provided in the government facilities only. She also appealed to other persons returning to Punjab from foreign countries to not panic as the Punjab government is providing all facilities such as timely food, medical checkup and others to them.
Similarly, a Dubai returned student named Rahul Gulati and worker Harwinder Singh showed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Punjab government for them. They also urged the persons returning to Punjab to follow all directions of the Punjab government if they want to weed out COVID 19 from our state.
Mr Kulpreet Singh, MC Joint Commissioner-cum-Incharge of this quarantine centre, said that all persons staying here have shown satisfaction over all arrangements provided here. He said that as per the directions of the health department, they are provided good quality food thrice daily, along with other facilities.
Mr Sanyam Aggarwal, Nodal Officer, COVID, Ludhiana, informed that for the stay of persons returning from different countries, the District Administration has developed a facility of more than 950 beds in both private hotels as well as government facilities namely Parker House and Kairon Kisan Ghar (both located inside Punjab Agricultural University). He informed that around 800 beds have been reserved in hotels, while around 150 in the government facilities.
He said that at present, people are staying at Parker House, Kairon Kisan Ghar, COVID care centre at Meritorious School as well as in private hotels. He said that more such persons are expected to reach Ludhiana in next 2-3 weeks time. He informed that around 250 registrations have been made by persons who are willing to return to Ludhiana from other countries, which means the District Administration is expecting around 1000 persons in total as some of them would be accompanied by their family members. He said that majority of the registrations have been made from countries such as Dubai, USA, Canada, Australia, UAE and others.
He informed that upon their arrival, all persons would be screened as per the COVID protocol, and if any person is symptomatic, their samples would be taken immediately, while samples of asymptomatic persons would be taken after they complete 14 day quarantine period either in a private hotel or government facility. He stated that the patients found positive for COVID 19 in testing would then be shifted to either Civil Hospital Ludhiana or Mother Child Hospital near Vardhman, here. He said that all persons would have to complete their 14 day quarantine period either at a hotel or government facilities. He said that persons would be sent to their respective homes only on the completion of their 14 day quarantine period whether their reports were negative or positive.
Mr Aggarwal informed that the government facilities, where foreign returned persons can stay are Parker House and Kairon Kisan Ghar both situated inside Punjab Agricultural University, here. At Parker House and Kairon Kisan Ghar, the persons will have to pay Rs 500 and Rs 300 per day for single occupancy, respectively. This will include food for three times daily. He stated that the District Administration has tied up with 2-star to five-star hotels, where these people can stay on payment basis. He said that the charges of private hotels start from Rs 1300 per day for single occupancy, including food. He informed that the rooms can be shared between two persons if they belong to same family. He informed that till date around 20 hotels with 800 rooms have registered with the District Administration in Ludhiana. He informed that people are given an option to either stay in hotel or in government facility, depending on their budget.