Dimapur, March 18 (EMN): Close on the heels of issuing a series of preventive measures, including banning of tourists and closure of educational institutions to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus into the state, the government of Nagaland on Wednesday issued fresh regulations for the public, institutions and health officials to follow.
The department of Health and Welfare, through a regulation called Nagaland Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) Regulations 2020, has made it mandatory for all health facilities in the state to notify any suspecting person to the concerned district surveillance unit along with duly filled self-declaration forms, their travel history and contact with suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19. The press release issued by Chief Secretary Temjen Toy also stated that all health facilities should have a designated flu/Covid-19 corner for screening suspected cases.
People with such history in the past 14 days but are asymptomatic must be kept in home/facility quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure and information of all such cases should be provided to the chief medical officer and health officer of the district immediately, read the statement.
The directive further warned the public or any institution not to use any print or electronic media to disseminate information regarding Covid-19 without prior permission of the Health and Family Welfare department and to avoid the spread of any rumour or unauthenticated information. It also stated that no private laboratories have been authorised to take or test samples for Covid-19 in Nagaland.
Any person with travel history in the past 14 days to a country or area from where Covid-19 has been reported, must report to the nearest government hospital or call any helpline number so that necessary measures can be taken. People with travel history to the coronavirus-affected countries, but don’t have any symptom should take precautions and avoid contact with people including family members for 14 days, read the statement.
If a Covid-19 suspect refuses admission to health facility or isolation, the authorised officers have the power to forcefully admit and isolate such people for a period of 14 days from the onset of symptoms or till the reports of lab tests are received, or such period as may be necessary. If Covid-19 cases are reported from a town or district, the district administration can seal the geographical area, bar entry and exit of population from the containment area, close schools, colleges, offices and ban public gatherings and vehicular movement and initiate passive and active surveillance of Covid-19 cases, said the directive.
The district disaster management committee (DDMC) headed by deputy commissioner (DC) has been authorised for planning strategies regarding the containment measures for Covid-19 in their respective districts. The DC may co-opt more officers from different departments for DDMC regarding, it read. It further warned that any person/institution/organisation found violating these regulations would be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of Indian Penal Code 1860 (45 of 1860).
“No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 (No. of 1897) unless proved otherwise. These regulations shall come into force immediately and shall remain valid for a period of one year from the date of publication of this notification,” read the statement.
Meanwhile, principal director of Health and Family Welfare department Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie confirmed on Wednesday during the review meeting of Special Action Group (SAG) related to steps taken by the state for Covid-19, that training of the state police forces has been initiated and would be ready to start the screening process at the earliest, an update from DIPR stated. He also confirmed that the department has procured more ventilators and personal protection equipment including N-95 masks and scanners to meet the requirements of the state.
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha has directed the concerned department to collect information like contact details, address and travel history of all passengers arriving at Dimapur Airport in order to monitor them constantly. He stated that altogether 11 road entry points into the state had been identified and the deputy commissioners had been directed to start the screening process at the earliest, the update informed.
Sinha went on to state that all 49 foreign tourists, who had entered Nagaland, are being monitored by the concerned authorities.