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Mobile room isolation facility marketed

20 May 2021

  • Prior permission must be obtained: Health authorities  

By Dinitha Rathnayake    The public health authorities including public health inspectors (PHIs) said yesterday (19) that prior approval must be obtained by any party before promoting and selling mobile room isolation facilities amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.  This clarification was made in the wake of a local company promoting the services of a mobile room facility manufactured by them to be used by Covid-19-positive patients to self-isolate or uninfected persons to stay separate from infected persons, especially if they are presently sharing space in cramped quarters.  Public Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath, speaking to The Morning, said that if someone implements such a product, they need to obtain permission from the Ministry of Health first. PHIs’ Union Secretary Mahinda Balasooriya also said that if a Covid-19-positive person requires such a room, they would need the permission of the area PHI. However, the ones who are not Covid-19-positive and need a separate room for safety purposes, need not obtain prior permission, he noted.  Its creator, whose company is in the business of making office rooms, container rooms, and bedrooms, speaking to The Morning, claimed that the room would be ideal for persons who wish to go to work or want to be isolated due to the coronavirus.  “We made these rooms for the benefit of the people who live with their family but have no option but to stay at home even if they are infected with the virus.”  The said mobile room is made out of stainless steel. These rooms are available in the range of eight by 10 square feet, eight by eight square feet, and six by eight square feet, and include a bed with a mattress, a table, a chair, and a fan. The washroom including a toilet commode, shower, and sink, comes separate to the room. The cost of a room sans toilet would be Rs. 2,500 per day, while Rs. 3,000 would have to be paid per day for the room with the washroom. Transport charges are to be added according to the distance.  According to the product’s creator, if someone wishes to rent a room, they must keep a deposit of Rs. 10,000 whereupon the company would bring this mobile room and fix it in one’s garden or the place of choice. The amounts will be deducted from the said deposit based on the number of days it is used and the per day cost for the washroom.  “Before we fix this room, we will sanitise the whole compartment at the same time and the mattress would be used only once and will be destroyed after use. We also provide aftercare services if someone needs further safety measures.”  When queried about the demand, he said: “We get back-to-back calls from customers and we are ready to supply the demand.”


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