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Dimapur, June 10 (EMN): A total of 12 patients tested negative for Covid-19 in their second tests, taking the total number of recovered to 22 so far in Nagaland, according to an official update on June 10.
The minister of Health and Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom, updated the Covid-19 status of Nagaland on Wednesday.
“12 more patients have tested negative of Covid-19 in their second test. 8 from Kohima, and 4 from Dimapur. All the patients are under observation,” Phom tweeted. He went on to inform that the total number of coronavirus cases in the state stood at 128 with 106 active cases and no death so far.
Four patients each from District Hospital Tuensang, Naga Hospital Authority Kohima and District Hospital Dimapur (all converted to Covid-19 hospitals) were tested negative for the virus.
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha also stated in his daily briefing that one sample was tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, taking the total cases to 128, out of which 106 were active and 22 persons recovered.
“A total of 223 samples have been tested by TrueNat and out of which 189 samples have tested negative and result of 34 samples are awaited,” he said, adding that all the active cases are asymptomatic and are receiving medical care at the designated Covid-19 hospitals.
“Till date, a total of 4969 samples have been tested. Results of 3791 samples have been received and the rest are awaited. A total 6709 persons are presently under facility quarantine 7879 persons under home quarantine,” he added.
It may be mentioned that Nagaland recorded first Covid-19 case on June 25 after three returnees from Chennai were tested positive for the virus. Within two weeks, the number of positive cases breached 100-mark as 13 suspected samples returned positive on June 6, taking the state’s tally to 107.
The High Powered Committee (HPC) on Covid-19 on Wednesday deliberated on the issue of stranded people who were working outside prior to their return to the state due to the on-going pandemic, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
According to an update from Sinha, “the department of Labour and Employment has been asked to register all such people themselves with the government with full details, so that appropriate training and skill development programmes could be run for them to help them get gainfully employed”.
‘The commissioner and secretary, Labour and Employment informed that the department is working with the IT department to come out with an App where the returnees can register themselves along with their skill set and work experience. The data collected will be used by the government to work on an action plan to utilise the available human resources in the state,’ the update read.
The committee also discussed on mechanisms needed to be put in place so that those planning to return to other states for employment can get themselves registered with the government of Nagaland and update their place of employment and other details in order to enable the government to quickly reach out to anyone in distress and provide assistance, should any such need arises in future.
The principal secretary of Home apprised the HPC about the provisions of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the returnees to the state and the measures being taken for facilitating the district task forces and ensuring that there is complete adherence to government guidelines.
During the review meeting, the principal director of School Education informed that 15,899 persons were eligible for one-time financial assistance of INR 10,000 offered by the state government for those who voluntarily opted to stay back in their respective places. A total of INR 15,89,90,000 has been incurred for this purpose, it was informed.
The High Powered Committee also decided to arrange a special train from Delhi to Dimapur on June 14 to bring stranded citizens of Nagaland.
The committee went on to deliberate on “the matter pertaining to engineers, technical experts, skilled labourers etc. from outside the state, who are required to come to the state from time to time, to perform specialised and essential works in the power, telecom and other vital installations for short duration”.
‘It was decided that the Home department will examine and come up with a separate SOP for such categories of people whose entry in the state is unavoidable for short durations. There could be provisions made in the SOP for testing such people by TrueNat machines on their entry, and on negative results, they could be allowed to proceed for work, while following all the social distancing norms,’ the update read.
The committee has also decided to allow religions places in the state to open after considering the relaxations given by the government of India in its latest lockdown rules.
“The HPC decided for allowing for opening of religious places in the state subject to adherence to the provisions of SOP issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI. It was decided that the relevant orders in this regard should mention all the conditions/provisions that need to be followed at the religious places,” the update said.
The HPC review meeting was attended by several ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister; Health and Family Welfare Minister; Mminister for Planning and Co-ordination, Land Revenue, Parliamentary Affairs; Minister for Agriculture and Cooperation; Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Justice & Law; Minister for Public Health Engineering Department; and PWD (Housing and Mechanical) Minister.