To ensure that COVID-19 pandemic does not spread in Nagaland even after nationwide lockdown is lifted, the government and its agencies along with civil organisations are continuously monitoring and reminding the public to take all preventive measures. Legislators continue to visit various designated COVID Hospitals and health centres to observe the activities being undertaken in the eventuality of a breakout of the pandemic. Many civil organisations continue to remind residents in their respective jurisdictions to continue following the government guidelines. District administrations are also passing new orders for the public to strictly adhere, while interstate and state borders are stringently monitored and sanitisation of vehicles carried out prudently. Frontline workers continue to actively carry out their designated duties for the protection of the public in the state.
Mokokchung
DTF on COVID-19 meeting held in Mokokchung: Meeting of Mokokchung District Task Force (DTF) on COVID-19 was held at the ADC planning hall where minister of Health & Family Welfare Pangyu Phom also attended on May 1. The meeting was chaired by deputy commissioner Mokokchung Limawapang Jamir who is also the chairman of the task force. Members of the task force including superintendent of Mokokchung and chief medical officer Mokokchung briefed the members at the meeting and also highlighted the various steps and initiatives undertaken by the district and also the challenges in tackling the possible outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Besides representatives from the civil societies including Ao Senden and others spoke at the meeting. Advisor of Industries and Commerce Imnatiba and minister of PWD Tongpang Ozukum were also present at the meeting and gave brief speeches. Medical minister expressed his satisfaction adding that Mokokchung district was the best in preparedness for COVID-19. Minister added that this pandemic was a blessing in disguise as people across different walks of life have come together to fight it, thus bringing about unity. He further acknowledged the pro-active role played by the different civil society organizations in Mokokchung led by the Ao Senden, Watsu Mungdang, AKM and others. He however expressed concern about the pandemic post the lockdown scenario. For this, he urged the people to abide by all protocols and guidelines issued by the government. He further urged the people not to be complacent post lockdown and added that focus on border areas of the state should be directed as the spread of COVID-19 if at all would be “imported cases”. Minister further acknowledged the need for a testing lab at Mokokchung but some technicalities should be followed first before establishing a lab.
Earlier in the day, the minister launched the ambulance at IMDH, COVID-19 Hospital Mokokchung. He further launched the first True Nat Lab at IMDH in the state. The lab will be a rapid testing/screening for COVID-19 wherein if a patient tested negatives then it was a confirmed negative, but if it was positive then the sample would be sent to any of the RTPCR for confirmation. It was also informed that the 2nd lab in the state (True Nat Lab) will be installed at Mon very soon. (Correspondent)
Peren
DC Peren issues directive on permitted activities: Deputy commissioner of Peren has notified that the following activities under Peren sub-division are permitted with immediate effect: Shop for vehicle repair along the highways with stipulated minimum social distancing; All shops (garments store, bakery, hardware store etc) including neighbourhood shops, stand-alone shops, shops in residential complexes and market complexes within the purview of Peren Town Council with 50% strength of workers and wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory; The shops are to remain open only from 8 a.m to 2 p.m; All weekly bazaars shall remain closed; It is reiterated that salons, dine-in-restaurants, eateries and department stores shall continue to remain closed. However, home deliveries from dine in restaurants, food outlets and delivery of online orders of essential commodities shall be permitted; The proprietors of the shop and establishment which are allowed to open will make arrangement for keeping hand sanitisers or provide facilities for hand washing with shops and water for the public as well as for their own staff/workers. They should also get the door handles, surfaces and other objects frequently touched by people regularly cleaned and disinfected. However, as specified in the lockdown measures, National COVID-19 Directives and standard operating procedure protocol for social distancing must be ensured. Any act of violation shall invite legal proceedings as per provisions of section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and section 188 of the Indian Penal code (IPC).
Kohima
Report on law & order: Principal secretary, Home, Abhijit Sinha while issuing the daily report on law & order and facilitation of essential goods & services in the state for May 1 stated that 63 (sixty three) violations of the lockdown were reported. According to DIPR report, 19 (nineteen) persons were bound down and an amount of Rs. 22,000 (twenty two thousand) was imposed as fine under the MV Act. According to the report, groceries and other food shops including milk shops were open in all the districts except in Mokokchung, where it was closed to regulate public movement. Medicinal shops continue to remain open in all the districts of the state. There has been no report of shortage of essential commodities. The report also informed that suitable arrangements have been made for providing food and shelter to migrant workers affected by the COVID-19 restrictions. In this regard, 4 (four) relief camps are active where 481 (four hundred eighty one) migrant labourers are housed and 5 (five) food camps are active. Also, more than 2,600 (two thousand six hundred) daily wagers and needy people were provided food/dry ration.
NDRF conducts awareness programme: One sub team of 12th BN NDRF Doimukh carried out awareness programme on social distancing and sensitisation drive at Jail Colony near Market Area, Jail Colony Youth Panchayat and Jail Colony Panchayet Bhavan of Kohima. A press release from sub inspector K. P. Singh (team leader) stated that the team along with sub inspector W. L. Odyuo, Jail Colony Youth Organization and Jail Colony Youth Panchayat Organization and NDRF briefed about advantages of social distancing to people in market area and labour party working at sites. Rescuers of 12th BN NDRF sprayed disinfectants mixed with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and water by jet spray machine.
Training on end life care for COVID-19 held at Tseminyu: All village chairmen of Tseminyu sub-division, ward GBs of Tseminyu town and Rengma NGO leaders from various villages attended the training programme held at town hall Tseminyu, chaired by SDO (C) Tsutsowe Kupa. According to DIPR report, SMO Tseminyu Dr. Avilie Zao as resource person informed all norms/rules already laid down by the government in which disinfectant would be properly applied/put on the coronavirus infected dead body, and if so, the experts from Medical department would take the job of taking the infected dead body till burial site. He impressed upon the village authorities that COVID-19 dead bodies should be allowed for burial, in case, if such situation comes up due to the pandemic.
ADC Tseminyu, Nokchasashi Kichu, who spoke about COVID-19 preparedness post lockdown at the training programme acknowledged all village authorities and NGOs of Tseminyu sub-division for maintaining strict disciplined rules of lockdown measures against COVID-19 pandemic.
Dimapur
DGU and GSU visit Dimapur COVID-19 Hospital: Dimapur Gorkha Union (DGU) in collaboration with Gorkha Student’s Union (GSU) visited Dimapur COVID-19 Hospital to meet with the frontline medical staff on April 30. A press release from DGU stated that, in a short speech chairman of DGU Kumar Subba lauded the selfless sacrifices of medical staff. Rev. B Vinod Rai invoked blessing upon the medical staff and all the frontline health workers. CMO and medical staff thanked the union for the encouragement.
DBS requests all Bengalis to maintain social distancing: Dimapur Bengali Samaj (DBS) has requested all the Bengalis living in Dimapur to maintain social distancing post lockdown so that coronavirus cannot enter Dimapur. A press release from DBS president K. K. Paul also thanked all the Bengali youth volunteers for their hard work towards the helpless and homeless.
Mon
DC Mon issues advisory: Deputy commissioner Mon, Thavaseelan K taking cognizance of the violations of safety and preventive measures notified by the government, has issued the following advisories for strict compliance of the general public in Mon district: Compulsorily wear masks/face covers in public places/work places. Violators will be sent home immediately if they are found violating this advisory. If no masks are available, please use a cloth to partially cover your face; Strictly maintain social distancing in all public places/work places; Gathering of 5 or more persons is strictly prohibited; Spitting in all public places is strictly prohibited and shall be punishable with fine; Sale of gutka and other tobacco products is strictly prohibited; Any movement of people except for emergency medical care is not permitted without movement permit issued by district administration; Shopkeepers to compulsorily wear hand gloves and face masks and enforce social distancing norms in their shops. They must also provide hand sanitisers/soap and water for hand wash; Violators will be penalised under Section 188 of IPC and relevant Sections of Disaster Management Act 2005 and Nagaland Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations 2020.
Transportation charge for rice distribution: DC, Mon further notified that the transportation charge for rice distributed under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) will be borne by the department of Food & Civil Supplies, Nagaland. The transportation charge for relief rice distributed by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) through the district administration will be borne by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) till the sub-division HQs. Thereafter, the cost from the sub-division to the villages will be borne by the respective village councils from the 50% Grant-in-Aid (GIA) received from the department of Rural Development, Nagaland. It is again reiterated that rice under PMGKAY and relief rice from DDMA are absolutely free of cost. Criminal proceedings will be initiated against anyone found selling this rice.
Kiphire
NSRLM Kiphire initiate sale of local vegetables: Shift Bazaar has been temporarily organized by district administration on alternate days to enable SHGs and farmers to sell their locally grown vegetables. A press release from NSRLM BPM Longmatra Atsope Sangtam stated that, to ensure the availability of local produce to general public and to improve the livelihood of farmers, the RD department involving NSRLM through the coordination with district administration has also procured various locally produced vegetables from SHGs under Kiphire and Longmatra blocks. The produces were bought by the department from the spot and sold voluntarily by the NSRLM staff Kiphire in the market. NSRLM staff also shared gratitude to frontline workers, by distributing bundles of green vegetables free of cost to all the frontline workers assigned on duty on May 1.
Tuensang
Wungtung takes stock of Shamator: Advisor I&PR, VG, SCERT and chairman DPDB Tuensang Toshi Wongtung visited Shamator to take stock of current situation from Task Force for Covid-19 Shamator on May 1. According to DIPR report, chairman of TFC-19 Shamator, ADC Lankonsen Tsanglao highlighted few immediate needs to the advisor. The meeting was also held in presence of selected YTC, Public Forum Shamator, Chambers of Commerce Shamator, Police, VG, 45 AR, NDPP 58 A/C office bearers and COVID-19 team Shamator. Toshi also donated face mask, hand sanitiser, soap, fruits etc.