NEW DELHI: Union Minister V Muraleedharan said the centre is not against the expatriates with no symptoms of COVID-19 going home quarantine. Those having symptoms should be housed in hospitals or observation centres. The number of those returning will be decided according to the facilities of the states. The number of Kerala is not known. Not filing an affidavit in the high court is mysterious, he said. The government had earlier sought relaxation on the directive of the isolation of expatriates.

The government had decided to send the Indians coming from abroad to 14 days quarantine in their homes or halls. Almost 15,000 rooms in five districts were arranged for it. Presently halls, vacant houses and expats’ empty houses will be used for it.

However, the directive was against centre’s guidelines that they should quarantined in whichever places they arrive. The response of the Union minister is a relief to the state government.