Nagaland News

State-wide total lockdown extended till May 31

May 19, 2021

After reviewing the current situation and taking into account the consistent rise of Covid-19 positive cases in the State, the High Powered Committee (HPC) has decided to extend the ongoing State-wide total lockdown with existing conditions till May 31.

This was decided at an emergency meeting of the HPC held at the chief minister’s residential complex, Kohima on Wednesday under the chairmanship of chief minister Neiphiu Rio to review Covid-19 situation in the State after imposition of the State-wide total lockdown from May 14.

Online classes: HPC also decided that schools, on completion of summer break, would be allowed to resume online classes from May 24 as per detailed SOPs to be brought out by the school education department.

Oxygen supply: For more efficient management of oxygen supply through cylinders, HPC decided that a centralised depot of oxygen cylinders would be created at Chumukedima Police Complex for efficient distribution and to minimise turnaround time in refilling cylinders. Zonal depots too would be set up at strategic locations across the State.

Community surveillance: To check the spread of the virus in rural areas, HPC also decided to put in place a system of community surveillance through ASHA workers as well as NSRLM and other volunteers from civil society organisations, which would be coordinated by the respective district task forces.

Appointments: It further decided that vacancies of doctors and nurses under NHM caused due to the recent recruitment of 56 doctors would be filled up by engaging suitable professionals on temporary basis.

The meeting was attended by Health minister S Pangnyu Phom; planning, LR & parliamentary affairs minister Neiba Kronu; IT, science & technology and NRE adviser Mmhonlumo Kikon, minister in-charge of Kohima district, chief secretary J Alam and senior officials from health, home and NSDMA etc., Kronu and Kikon, government spokespersons on Covid-19 stated in a joint statement.

The decision to extend lockdown also comes a day after chief minister Neiphiu Rio, in his virtual address to the people of the state on May 18, reminded all the state was grappling with an extraordinary scenario and urged all to be prepared that the lockdown may even need to be extended if the situation required.

Over 6000 traffic violatIONS; 500 fined for flouting SOPs

Staff Reporter: Despite several warnings being issued by the state authoriteis to penalize defaulters during the lockdown under the Epidemic Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code, it has been observed that many people still continue to blatantly flout the lockdown guidelines in Dimapur, which is the worst Covid-hit district in the State.

Particularly during the morning hours, people continue to throng the markets to buy essential commodities. Though authorities have said that the current situation was not a law and order issue, they said that people should by themselves understand the seriousness of the second Covid wave that has taken the lives of many and spreading rapidly by the day.

A police official said that policemen have been carrying out their duties with utmost restraint while dealing with people. However, the official expressed dismay that people continue to blatantly flout the lockdown rules. While admitting that people needed to buy essential items, the official said that the laid down guidelines clearly state that such activities were permitted in the respective colonies or villages.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police (CP) Dimapur, Rothihu Tetseo claimed that law and order situation was under control and criminal cases were low.

Speaking to media persons at DC’s office conference hall, CP said 6,500 people were fined for violation of traffic rules and more than 500 for violation of Covid-19 SOPs. Expressing sorrow over the death of two policemen due to the virus, he said many had contracted it while performing their duties.

Meanwhile, CP has appealed to all those exempted from the purview of the total lockdown to not misuse their privilege. Maintaining that the public were self-disciplined and cooperating with the measures imposed by the state government, he, however, lamented that some of those exempted were flouting rules.

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