Allow movement of Covid-19 workers — DC Dimapur

Warns of action against colonies/village councils preventing entry/exit of those working in frontline

Dimapur, April 20 (EMN): The deputy commissioner (DC) of Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, has warned of strict action against volunteers/vigilantes in localities who prevent the movement of frontline workers and people engaged in providing essential services during the lockdown period.

According to a DIPR report, during a meeting on Monday, the DC expressed serious concern with regard to the continued barring of people working in the frontline/providing essential services  by several colonies/villages despite repeated appeals made by the district administration.

He also encouraged the frontline workers to report such instances to the administration.

Khinchi reminded that social organisations have very important roles to play and appealed to the NGOs, GB/village councils to sensitise and educate the people in their respective colonies/villages.

“Instead of people guarding the village/colonies in groups, it is always better to stay at home and maintain social distance and be safe,” the DC advised.

The top medical officers of the district also expressed concern over the restriction of the movement of healthcare workers by the villages/colonies in Dimapur.

After District Hospital Dimapur was converted to a Covid-19 hospital, patients with other health problems have to seek treatment from private hospitals, the chief medical officer (CMO) of Dimapur said.

However, he lamented, private hospitals are finding difficult to function as their workers are facing movement problems and if this continues, private hospitals will be forced to close down.

Burial protocols

The medical officers also felt that people need to be sensitised more in order to remove their apprehensions about burial in case of death of Covid-19 patients.

The CMO explained dead bodies, after being disinfected by the medical team, could be taken by the relatives for burial or cremation.

The only restriction is that the family members should not touch the dead body. Once all burial protocols are followed, there is nothing to worry, according to the CMO.

The meeting further decided that wholesale system in currently in place would continue until further orders.