Guidelines Issued for Care Homes and Orphanages
Originally published by The Times of India on 23/03/2020
Summary
India’s state social justice department issued guidelines for juvenile justice institutions, including care homes and orphanages, functioning under the department, which must be strictly followed by the inmates and employees in these institutions in the wake of increasing confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the state.The guidelines stated that if children in care homes could be safer with their parents at their own homes, the child welfare committees (CWCs) should take necessary measures to send them home.The department will also conduct regular awareness classes on prevention and control of Covid-19 spread for children and workers in these institutions with the help of the health department.Among other directions are strict maintenance of hygiene, proper use of sanitizers and hand wash, use of bleaching solutions for washing clothes and immediate medical attention for inmates in case of symptoms of fever, cough, cold and other respiratory ailments. Direct contact with children showing these symptoms should be avoided while seeking medical attention.The department has also directed to restrict visitors at these institutions and to strictly avoid picnics and leisure trips. The employees should be made aware of the preventive methods and they should stay away from public events and other functions.