COVID-19: Kerala to convert houseboats into isolation wards

In the wake of Coronavirus pandemic, the Kerala government has decided to convert as many as 2,000 houseboats into COVID-19 care centres in Alappuzha district. As part of it, a mock drill was also coordinated by the District Disaster Management Authority.

Alappuzha (Kerala):In a unique initiative, Kerala is rolling out an extraordinary initiative of transforming houseboats into COVID-19 care centres in Alappuzha district.

The state government has decided to convert houseboats into the quarantine facility in the wake of coronavirus pandemic.

The extraordinary measure has been planned as Kerala is expecting a huge influx of Indian nationals coming back from foreign countries who will need to be put in the quarantine facility.

The mock drill was also coordinated by the District Disaster Management Authority. As part of it, readiness and coordination between government departments and medical teams, shifting of patients to hospital from vessels in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, safety and disinfection measures to be taken before and after shifting a patient have all been put to test.

According to officials, 2,000 isolation beds will be set up in houseboats anchored at the Finishing Point as part of a contingency plan.

There are around 700 licensed houseboats in the district. In the initial phase, bedrooms in 140 houseboats have been turned into isolation rooms.

It is pertinent to note that the latest move of the state comes in tune with the governments in other states converting resorts and hotels into quarantine facilities. The hotel staff and management are also working hand in hand with the government in its fight against Coronavirus.