Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC), while appreciating the efforts of the state government in bringing all those stranded at various states back to Nagaland, also appealed to returnees to be patient and follow laid down guidelines for containing COVID-19.
NTC in a statement, issued by its president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie also took serious note of the “serious lapses” on the part of the state government in sending returnees from quarantine in Kohima back to their respective districts without completing the first phase of medical test/quarantine period.
In this regard, NTC urged upon the state government to increase its efforts and rectify the haphazard way in which it was following its operating procedure to contain the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that no returnees were sent to their respective districts without results of COVID tests. If returnees were to be sent, then it should be with proper Standard Operating Procedure(SOP).
NTC also urged upon the state government to provide proportionate medical facilities and required frontline workers to all designated COVID hospitals to contain the virus at the initial stages.
While stating that there was vast difference between spread of COVID-19 from either known or unknown sources, NTC said the spread of COVID-19 in Nagaland was from known source, from within government regulated environment. It said the spread could be contained if seriously dealt with.
NTC also appealed to all individuals of Nagaland to maintain calm and not to panic during the present crisis but unite at a time when all were at war against COVID-19 in order to win and defeat the virus.
NTC especially urged upon all CSOs and NGOs to shed differences if any, and extend cooperation and support with the government to contain COVID-19 and also urged individuals to follow SOP measures in letter and in spirit.