Kerala plans reverse quarantine for elderly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Kerala, the state with the lowest Covid-19 mortality and highest recovery rate in India, is set to take the fight against the viral pandemic to the next stage by implementing a “reverse quarantine” to protect its elderly and people ailing with medical conditions that make them susceptible to the virus.

The state is seeking to preserve the gains it has made in the battle against the pathogen, which has affected 499 people, of whom 95 are active patients. Four have died and how many recovered.

A blueprint for the reverse quarantine has already been prepared. Experts say reserve quarantine is the practice of isolating the most vulnerable people -those of advanced age and under treatment for existing ailments -from the rest of the population and monitoring their health to protect them from infection.

“In case of a community spread we can isolate vulnerable population and check their mortality rate effectively unlike what happened in some of the western countries. We have formed grassroots committees .... Besides local body members, Asha workers, volunteers and local police owill be part of these committees,” said Dr B Iqbal, who heads an expert panel that advises the state government on disease.