Nagaland government issues advisories

Use of masks, sanitisers compulsory in public areas

Dimapur, March 13 (EMN): In the wake of the global outbreak of novel coronavirus (Covid-19), the government of Nagaland has ordered implantation of various preventive measures.

The Home department on Friday directed all deputy commissioners to ensure the following:  

• People should compulsorily use masks and hand sanitisers in all public places.
• Ensure that those persons like salesmen/shopkeepers who usually come in contact with large number of people wear masks.
• All establishments must keep hand sanitisers for both personal and public use.
• Take immediate steps to activate and widely publicise a phone line/contact number to receive reports/complaints from public regarding hoarding or selling at higher price of masks/hand sanitisers.

A separate advisory from Urban Development directed all urban local bodies (ULBs) to submit a report on precautionary actions taken in their respective jurisdictions, on or before March 18.

It also issued the following directives:

All ULBs are directed to ensure maintenance of utmost cleanliness and hygiene in all the school/public/departmental transport systems.

• Cleanliness and hygiene to be maintained in all public toilets and amenities.
• Ensure all restaurants/hotels/eateries etc., maintain utmost cleanliness and hygiene.
• No wild and live animals are to be sold in the market.
• Fish, poultry and meat are to be sold only at designated shops/locations duly authorised by the respective ULBs.
• Random butchers and meat shops to be strictly prohibited.
• Rearing of pigs and poultry in close proximity to human in urban areas should be discouraged.
• Ensure that all the wards maintain proper sanitation within their jurisdiction. Also prohibit random disposal of garbage etc.
• Hoarding/selling by exorbitant prices items such as hand sanitisers/hand wash/mask etc., to be prohibited.
• Sanitary workers/sweepers of each ULB to be properly sensitised, and protective gears and safety measures to be used compulsorily.
• Fogging and sanitising vulnerable areas may also be conducted in coordination with the Health and Family Welfare department.
• Helplines for the public be established in all the wards in coordination with the Health and Family Welfare department.

‘Refer suspected cases to district hospital’

All private hospitals/clinics/nursing homes in Dimapur have been asked to refer suspected Covid-19 cases to RRT at District Hospital Dimapur.

In a notification issued on Friday, the chief medical officer of Dimapur stated that Covid-19 has now been declared as pandemic under the Epidemic Act 1897. “There is a standard operation procedure (SOP) in case-definition of Covid-19. As of today, March 13, 2020, no private hospitals, nursing homes/ clinics are to collect specimen sample, but those suspected cases are to be referred to RRT at District Hospital Dimapur.

“Failing to comply with the SOP and guidelines laid down by the Ministry of Health, government of India, actions will be taken against the defaulters,” it warned.