With the number of coronavirus positive cases soaring up in India, the governments are trying their best to fight back the disease. As the number of cases increases, the government would find it hard to accommodate people under quarantine. In regard to this, Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of OYO, took to twitter offering their hotels to be turned into quarantine centers.
Responding to a tweet by the popular twitter handle @GabbbarSingh, Ritesh Agarwal expressed interest and intent to facilitate the government of India in fighting the pandemic. In his tweet, he also sought the suggestions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the medical fraternity in order to do so.
Reportedly, the OYO administration has reached out to the health departments across all states to figure out a way to convert its long network of hotels into quarantine centers for travelers. It is also learned that the facilities will be provided at an affordable rate.
OYO has also reached out to the World Health Organisation and the Health Department regarding the necessary steps to be taken to turn the hotel into centers for people who are looking to self-isolate or self-quarantine themselves.
OYO has further in under the process of setting up a helpline number to entertain the service requests for the quarantine facility by individuals or by state authorities in case if the state is exhausted in its in-house options.
This move by Ritesh Agarwal comes at a very important time and is a noble one too. While the governments are pushing their limits to contain the problem, after a point, the onus is on the public to take initiative and fight it along with the state.
The Maharashtra government has already tied up with hotels like ITC and Mirage to set up quarantine facilities for travelers coming into Mumbai. The Delhi government too has reached out to various hotels and has reportedly capped a maximum price per day to keep the option viable to people of all classes.
Since OYO has the advantage of having the largest chain of hotels at affordable rates, the move to turn its hotels into quarantine centers is ought to strengthen the Indian government’s fight against the pandemic.
