Hotel quarantine reduced to 7 days for Indians returning from abroad; Centre wants states to refund of extra charges

New Delhi:  Centre on Wednesday directed  the states to ensure refund of seven days extra charges taken by the hotels for quarantine from the Indians coming back from abroad. This comes in the backdrop of Ministry of Health and Family affairs revising the guidelines for such persons to stay in hotel quarantine for seven days and remaining seven days in home isolation. Such persons had booked the hotels in advance for 14 days.

The direction to the state chief secretaries was issued by the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla amidst reports that some of the hotels are refusing to refund the remaining seven days advance payment. Chief Secretaries have been asked to direct  hotels to charge only for 7 days and  refund balance.