Ganjam: Even after home quarantine and testing negative for the coronavirus infection, undue fear and stigma have compelled Madhab Patra (25) to spend the last five days in his car in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
His car is currently parked at the Temporary Medical Centre (TMC) at Basudevpur under the Sanakhemundi block.
According to reports, Madhab Patra was prevented from staying at his home in Dolaba despite having already spent 14 days in quarantine in Berhampur and testing negative for COVID-19.
The administration allowed Patra for home quarantine in Berhampur since he showed no symptoms for coronavirus.
After completing his 14-day quarantine period, he left for his hometown of Dolaba in his car since Berhampur was under the threat of cyclone Amphan.
However, the villagers opposed Patra's home stay and asked him to move to a nearby quarantine centre.
Patra accepted the villagers’ demand but decided to stay in his car parked on the premises of the quarantine centre since he feared the risk of contracting the infection from the centre where many migrant workers are housed currently.
“I informed the matter to the local authorities but to no avail. Since there is a risk of contracting the infection in institutional quarantine where many migrant workers are housed, I decided to stay in my car. I hope the administration intervenes and saves me from this predicament,” he told his plight.
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