MOKOKCHUNG, OCTOBER 15 (MExN): The Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner has deemed a document issued by several organizations in Mokokchung with relation to COVID-19 guidelines as “unauthorized” and “illegal.”
An order issued by the Mokokchung DC on October 15 took note that the All Ward Union Mokokchung Town, Mokokchung Town Aoer Telongjem and Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem had issued a document titled ‘information’ dated October 14 which advised educational institutions and religious places not to open till the end of this month.
It further stated that “any person entering Mokokchung town and its 18 wards from other districts/states should produce a COVID-19 negative report or report to the concerned authority without which no one will be allowed to enter.”
Regarding this, the Mokokchung DC informed that the Nagaland State Government has issued SOPs for the partial reopening of schools for classes 9 to 12 and permission for skill or entrepreneurship training institutions/centres via an order dated September 18, 2020. The government has also issued the SOPs for the opening of religious places/places of worship for public via an order dated June 10, 2020.
Further the DC stated that as per the new consolidated guidelines on lockdown measures issued on August 31, 2020, “outside containment zones, no order shall be issued imposing any additional or stricter lockdown measures at district/sub district/circle or any other level, except with the previous approval of the government.”
With regard to returnees and travelers, the DC pointed out that as per the State Government’s order, the revised SOP will be uniformly implemented throughout the State without any deviation and will not be modified by District Task Force, Urban Local Bodies, Village authorities or community based organizations. It cautioned that violation of this SOP will be penalized as per the relevant section of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Nagaland Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations 2020.
FIR filed against leak of confidential info
Meanwhile, the Mokokchung district administration filed an FIR on October 14 against the individual or group responsible for sharing confidential information relating to COVID-19 positive police personnel and AKM officials in various social media platforms; and those individuals or groups who created/shared fake rumors relating to Impur Clinic, Mokokchung Town.
Meanwhile, the Mokokchung DC also informed citizens that no individual, institution or organization can use print, electronic media to release information regarding COVID-19 without prior permission from the authority.
The DC, in a press release, cautioned that any person who exposes the identity of COVID-19 affected people through sharing of bio data or photo in various print and electronic media shall be penalized under section 188 of the IPC.
