Kohima panic buying: Authorities appeal for calm

Our Correspondent
Kohima, March 21(EMN): Amid the threat of the novel coronavirus, some citizens have started panic buying goods in fear that there will be shortage, but Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie has assured the citizens of Kohima district that there are no shortages of any essential commodities and has asked the people not to worry or panic.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, he stated that the district administration is monitoring the market daily, with help from the Kohima Municipal Council, and “we ensure that there is no shortage”.

He also informed that they have issued necessary orders to all the pharmacies and shops selling masks and sanitisers not to sell at prices higher than the MRP, and asked the public to complain or report to the contact information provided by the administration, if anyone charges more than the retail price. “We will ensure that these things are made available at the right price,” he stated.

He said that the biggest concern in the beginning was the inflow of tourists into the state but since the government has stopped the inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists, the concern has been addressed. ‘We have stopped issuing fresh ILPs, except those that need to be renewed’, he said.

The DC also informed that they have been monitoring the movements of the tourists and ‘also of our own people who have returned home from outside, especially from those affected countries’. He said that they are monitoring their health condition on a daily basis and subjected them to a mandatory period of home isolation. He stated that many of them have successfully completed that period without ‘any bad results and things have been going well’.

‘After a meeting with the hotel and homestay union, we have distributed the format and information to all and they are submitting reports on daily basis’, he said and assured that the surveillance team was always there and doing their best.

Thejawelie expressed that prevention was the priority but once that has been taken care of, there also has to be preparedness. He stated that the team has come up with preparedness; the authorities have also set up isolation rooms, and “more preparations are going on to enhance the facility”.

‘We have identified three designated quarantine areas in Chedema, Jakhama and Khuzama’, he informed and added that the team was inspecting the facilities and they would be having a review meeting soon. “We will see what has been done and what more needs to be done,” he assured.

He further appealed to the citizens not to listen to whatever people are saying on Covid-19, but authenticate the news, find out what was true and then accordingly respond. He also appealed to the public not to panic but restrict movement particularly to public places and asked them not to organise functions where people would gather. “These are the precautionary measures we would expect our people to take and once we co-operate, we will be tackling so many issues together,” he said

Thejawelie had earlier released a directive to all banks located under Kohima district to sanitise all the ATM booths and bank counters with medical recommended sanitisers on a regular basis to prevent and control the outbreak. “Hand sanitisers should also be kept for customers at the ATM booths,” it stated.