Additional isolation wards being set up at Niathu Resort and Cricket Academy Sovima
Dimapur, March 23 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday said that although no case of infection has been reported in Nagaland, the public should not lower their guard or be complacent.
Rio stated this during a video conference on the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) with all the District Task Force (DTF) at the chief secretary’s office chamber on March 23, a DIPR update informed.
He directed the DTF led by their respective district commissioners (DCs) "to play a crucial role in disseminating information and monitoring the situation without any complacence." He further said that there was no shortage of essential commodities in all the districts and urged the public not to panic.
The CM instructed DCs to direct the village guards to seal the eastern borders, especially the international borders, read the statement. He also appealed to the travellers and students coming from outside to quarantine themselves and informed that additional isolation wards were being set up at Niathu Resort and Cricket Academy Sovima, where food would be provided for the occupants by the state government.
He instructed the DCs of all districts to personally inspect and report about the quarantine arrangement in their respective districts and urged them to involve the NGOs and civil society in mobilising public support.
The DCs updated the chief minister on their activities and confirmed that the DTF and sub-divisional task forces were actively functioning and following all the orders issued by the state government, it read. The DCs also updated on the preparation of ICUs, isolation ward and quarantine locations in their respective districts. However, they expressed the need for more ambulance, PPEs, ventilators, N-95 mask and hand sanitisers.
Some of the DCs expressed concern over the price hike from the source i.e., Assam, and requested the chief minister to take up the matter with the Assam government, read the statement. The DCs of districts with international borders confirmed that the borders had been sealed and were being manned vigorously by the village guards.
The DCs also updated on the sensitisation and awareness initiatives taken up at the village level to ensure strict monitoring of visitors as well as to enlighten them of the best precautionary measures to tackle the outbreak.
Chief Secretary Temjen Toy assured that all the inputs shared by the DTF had been noted and necessary action would be taken. He said that the common concern of all the districts like shortages of ventilators, PPEs, mask sanitisers etc., would be addressed, adding that this shortage was not only in Nagaland but across the country. He went on to say that the state government had shared the concern with the Centre and efforts were being made to make the items available to all the states.
Nodal officer briefed on state’s preparedness
A review meeting on various steps and measures being taken up by Nagaland government on the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) was held with the nodal officer for Nagaland in the Secretariat Conference Hall, Kohima on March 23. Sanjay Kumar, additional secretary and financial advisor of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, GoI, has been appointed nodal officer for Nagaland for effective coordination and management of the Covid-19).
An update from DIPR informed that Kumar told the house that the Government of India is very serious and taking all measures to control the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country. He said that the Country was passing through a challenging time and called on the government of Nagaland to be fully prepared for any eventualities and to follow the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time. He also assured to act as a link between the Centre and the state in Covid-19 management.
Chief Secretary Temjen Toy informed during the meeting that Nagaland was one of the first states in the country to take steps and follow the guidelines issued by the GoI and that the government has been closely monitoring the developments. He also highlighted the nodal officer on the “preparative measures” taken up by the state government.
Toy stated that the state government has placed more orders for procurement of PPE, ventilators and other medical equipment and requested the nodal officer to intervene into the matter for timely delivery of all such equipment, the statement read.
The house expressed concern over “many students coming back to the state are not adhering to advisory for self quarantine and to contact the Covid-19 Helplines, which is causing much concern to the concerned authorities”. The chief secretary stated that if such advisories are continued to be ignored, the authorities might be forced to impose compulsory quarantine as per the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.
He also informed that there is no shortage of essential commodities including fuel and LPGs in Nagaland as there is no restriction on vehicular movements carrying essential commodities. He also expressed concern over adulterated hand sanitisers in the market and called on the district administration to keep a check on such items.