After backlash, Delhi L-G withdraws 5-day mandatory institutional quarantine order

The Delhi L-G withdrew the order on Saturday after a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

Announcing the order's revocation, he tweeted saying, "Regarding institutional isolation, only those COVID positive cases which do not require hospitalization on clinical assessment and do not have adequate facilities for home isolation would be required to undergo institutional isolation."

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has taken charge of Delhi's Health Ministry after Satyendar Jain tested positive, tweeted, "The L-G's apprehensions on home isolation were resolved in the SDMA meeting. The option of home isolation will continue."

Referring to the service of counseling patients at home—which had also been halted—Sisodia wrote, "This facility will remain available till Monday and alternatives will be discussed."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had questioned why a separate rule had been issued for Delhi when patients with mild/no symptoms could be isolated at home as per the ICMR's guidelines.

Kejriwal reportedly said, "Most COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. How will arrangements be made for them? The coaches provided by the Railways for isolation are hot inside where patients cannot stay."

Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had slammed the Friday order saying, "One rule for Delhi and another for rest of the country." He had asked, "Where will the person be kept, in railway coaches?"

AAP MLA Raghav Chadha had said, "People in my assembly called me and told me that we will not get tested now. People are that scared."