Centre tells States to take action against hotels trying to make money with the mandatory quarantine from the international returnees.

Hyderabad: Taking a tough stand, the Centre on Tuesday asked the States to take action against some hotels trying to make money with the mandatory quarantine from the international returnees.

In a letter sent to the Chief Secretaries of States, Union Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla said that the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare had issued guidelines on May 24 for international arrivals, including for quarantine arrangements. He said that as per these guidelines, the protocol for institutional quarantine has been revised to seven days, followed by seven days of home quarantine after medical assessment.

However, the Union Home Minister has received complaints that the Indian nationals returning from abroad quarantined in hotels on return were made to pay advance for 14 days. But, since they can now leave for home quarantine after seven days, the hotels should refund the balance of seven days. However, some hotels earmarked for the institutional quarantine have been refusing to make refunds. Against this backdrop, the Union Home Secretary asked the States to issue necessary directions to the hotels being used for institutional quarantine to make refunds of the balance amount to the foreign returnees and paid an advance of 14 days, without further delay.