Assam issues new SOP, no quarantine for travellers who leave state and return within 96 hours

GUWAHATI: Assam has waived mandatory quarantine of 10 days for travellers who leave state and return within 96 hours.

However, they will have to undergo Rapid Antigen Test on return. If the person tests positive for the virus, they will have to undergo home isolation or treatment at COVID-19 care centre/hospital as per protocol.

"In view of the issue of guidelines for phased re-opening (UNLOCK 4) by Centre, the Assam Government has decided that a person, who travels to any location outside state and returns to state within 96 hours of departure, will not be required to undergo quarantine of 10 days," the government stated.


Assam’s health department order stated, “The person will strictly comply with hygiene and social distancing norms during the stay outside Assam,” the SOP adds. The SOP will also be applicable for ministers and officials of the state government.”

A division bench of Chief Justice of Tripura High Court A A Kureshi and Justice Subhasis Talapatra on Friday stated, “ The Court had sighted, “Recent newspaper reports particularly published in vernacular language have reported the plight of the patients and relatives of those who have been tested positive of the virus. Certain shortcomings in the public health care system are projected.”

The Court said that besides the newspaper reports, the court has also noticed from state’s official figures that on a day when the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP hospital in the state capital had shown 240 beds available for the COVID patients, “there were 279 patients at the said centre.”

The Court sought reports in a number of health workers in the health facilities, availability of PPE Kits, oxygen and other medical facilities, break up of fund allocation and utilisation, district wise break-up of COVID patients and COVID centres along with a detailed about the various amenities those have.