Around 35 now staying in isolation rooms in city hotels

Kolkata, Apr 6 () Around 35 people are presentlystaying at isolation rooms set up at various hotels inKolkata, which have been earmarked by the Hotels andRestaurants Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) following theoutbreak of COVID-19.

Following a request from the West Bengal government,31 two-star, three-star and four-star hotels across the statehave offered a total of 640 rooms at subsidised rates topeople who have been directed to live in isolation for 14days.

"The government is asking those who need isolationwhether to stay at its quarantine places or hotels. Many areopting for hotels. At present 32 or 35 people are staying atthe identified hotels on pay-and-use basis", secretary ofHRAEI Sudesh Poddar told .

Besides, two other persons are staying at a hotel inSiliguri.

The two replaced a couple of other persons who hadleft after the 14-day isolation period, he said.

Those staying in hotel isolation are getting allfacilities including meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner atsubsidized rates.

Poddar said the names of the hotels offering isolationrooms cannot be revealed.

He said the coronavirus outbreak has closed down hoteland restaurant business.

Bars associated with the hotels are also shut sincethe lockdown started on April 25.

"We have asked the state government for concessions onpayments of property tax, electricity duty and excise licencefees," Poddar said.

He said the average occupancy level has come down toalmost zero across all categories of hotels. dcNN NN