Alappuzha: As the COVID-19 containment battle gathers pace in Kerala, Alappuzha district administration has teamed up with the Public Works Department (PWD) to convert the cosy houseboat fleet into isolation units.
The fact that Kerala has fairly succeeded in ‘flattening the curve’ of COVID-19 and keeping it under control without overwhelming the health facilities has not stopped the State from preparing further.
Alappuzha, usually, a picturesque tourism spot in Kerala with its lakes and houseboat cruises has thousands of houseboats in various sizes. Isolation units have been set up on the floating houseboats, to be well prepared in case a contingency situation arises, which includes third coming of the novel coronavirus.
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Addressing the media after a review meeting in Alappuzha district, G Sudhakaran, State Minister for Public Works said, the houseboat owners had responded positively to the proposal as soon as it was mooted.
Collaborating with the Public Works Department, the District Administration has already readied 2000 isolation beds on houseboats.
Alappuzha natives who get back to Kerala from foreign countries would be accommodated in such houseboat isolation units. Complying with the precautionary measures, they will have to be on strict quarantine on the houseboats for the stipulated time period recommended by the Health Department.
The government is deliberating on similar facilitation in the districts where there are airports, the minister added.
