Nagaland: More districts enhance COVID-19 containment measures   

The busy Dimapur City Clock roundabout wears a deserted look during the 8-day total lockdown comes which came into effect in Dimapur on July 26. The lockdown continues till August 3(Morung Photo)

The busy Dimapur City Clock roundabout wears a deserted look during the 8-day total lockdown comes which came into effect in Dimapur on July 26. The lockdown continues till August 3(Morung Photo)

Dimapur, July 30 (MExN): With recent surges in COVID-19 cases in the State, more districts have issued enhanced guidelines and lockdown measures to contain the spread of the infection.

As per State’s DIPR reports, orders on new guidelines, Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) and lockdown measures were issued by respective Deputy Commissioners, Task Forces or Block or sub-divisions administrators.  

Now total lockdown in Pfütsero town

The Block Level Task Force for COVID-19, Pfutsero Sub-Division has imposed a total lockdown at Pfütsero Town from July 29-August 4. This was decided at a emergency meeting the Task Force on July held at at ADC Office along with Core Committee for COVID-19 of Pfutsero Public Leaders. 

Lockdown Guidelines: 
a.    All public and vehicular movement is prohibited, except on medical emergencies. 
b.    All categories of shops are to remain closed during total lockdown period except for pharmacies. 
c.    All kinds of construction activities are prohibited. 
d.    All kinds of public activities including agriculture are prohibited. 
e.    Inter district movement is not restricted. However, vehicles passing through Pfütsero Town are prohibited for stoppage within the town area.

Exempted list: 
Functioning of the Office of the District Administration, Police, Security forces, Medical and essential service providers like Treasury, Bank, PHED, Food and Civil Supply, Social Welfare, Town Council, Telecom services, Media, LPG and ATM's are exempted from the purview of total lockdown. 

Meanwhile, the Medical Department gave a report on contact tracing and informed the members that primary contact tracing and COVID-19 testing and pointed out issues like shortage of technicians and an ambulance.

 After discussion, it was decided to request the higher authority to deploy at least two technicians for COVID-19 sample collection and one ambulance for transportation of COVID-19 patients.

It was also decided to request higher authority for COVID-19 testing from Phek Headquarter apart from Pfutsero. The members also discussed opening of COVID-19 care centre at Pfutsero Sub-Division.

New lockdown measures in Wokha from August 1-7

The DC and Chairman District Task Force for COVID-19, Wokha, Orenthung Lotha has informed that certain lockdown measures would be imposed in Wokha from August 1-7.
 
The measures have been promulgated under Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 “in the interest of public health and safety and abundant caution” taking into consideration the reports of positive COVID-19 cases in District, the DC said. 

Accordingly, to contain and prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the following measures have been imposed:

1.    All inter-district movement of vehicle shall remain closed except for movement of essential commodities, security forces, emergency medical services and person/depts. on bonafide government duty;
2.    Vehicles carrying essential commodities to be thoroughly frisked at all the inter-state and inter-district check gates and the police personnel’s manning the check gates are to ensure that only the driver/handyman with valid permit and ID card are to be allowed entry into the district.

Any person/group of persons acting in violation of this order shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code and Epidemic Disease Act 1897. 


Noklak to strictly regulate inter-district movement

A review Meeting of The Noklak Sub-Divisional Task Force on COVID-19 on July 28 has decided to strictly regulated inter-district movement. 

The meeting presided by the SDO (C), Noklak C.Phuniang also decided that all people coming from outside the state and from the Red-Zone districts (within the state) shall have to produce Swab test for COVID-19 (test). 

“There shall be no exemption for any category- Govt. Servants or otherwise. Those arriving without the test report shall be quarantined for 14 days of Home Quarantine,” the meeting deiced. 

As entrusted and endorsed by the SDPDB Noklak, the house also agreed to forward the matter of means to procuring TrueNat Machines to the Department of  Health & Family Welfare and to appeal the Government to allot 2 Nos of TrueNat (Quadro) to the District.

 The House further decided to appeal the MLAs of the District to pursue it relentlessly to the Government. 

Meanwhile, the house also deliberated on the need to regulate market timing to avoid and reduce crowding in the main town.
Accordingly, the task force divided 3 categories of shops and formulated a routine to be followed from July 31.   

Category 1: Pharmacies, Hotels, Petrol/Diesel Outlets, Bakeries – allowed to open on all days (except Sundays). However, only takeaway food/items shall be permitted in Hotels.

Category 2: Hardware, Groceries, Motor Parts, Pan Shops - allowed to open only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Category 3: Cloth store, Variety Stores, Cosmetic, Electronics, Stationeries and others - Allowed to open only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

DC Kiphire informs on inter-district movement

Kiphire District being only the Green Zone as far as COVID-19 positive case is concern, the Deputy Commissioner Kiphire, Abhinav Shivam, IAS has informed all the persons to followed the following guidelines for inter-District movement:

1.    Any persons who wish to travel outside Kiphire shall mandatorily obtain Transit permit from DC office, Kiphire   along with COVID-19 Screening slip obtained from medical department at control Room District Hospital Kiphire and the same shall be produced at Longmatra check gate. This is applicable to all including general public Government servants except for Front line workers (FLWs).

2.    Any persons entering the district shall be mandatory screened at Longmatra check gate and their details collected.

3.    All incoming passengers shall undergo mandatory 14 (fourteen) days Home Quarantine to by the respective ward authorities and the COVID-19 control Room, Kiphire.

4.    During the period of Home Quarantine if any person develops COVID-19 symptoms should immediately call help line no.7085889854/6009468943.

5.    Government officials posted under Kiphire District travelling in or out of the District shall obtain prior from the Deputy Commissioner & chairman DTF. Further, on their return, they shall undergo mandatory self- isolation for seven days and COVID-19 swab test before resuming their official duties.

6.    All car passes issued by the Deputy Commissioner till date shall stand cancelled with immediate effect. Transit permit issued hereafter shall be issued only on extreme emergency cases.

Peren DC updates SOPs 

DC Peren, Sentiwapang Aier, NCS on July 28 has issued on order stating that the following mentioned guidelines and Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) with regard to COVID-19 shall continue to remain operational in the district until further notice.

•    Strict maintain social distancing and and compulsorily wear face mask in all public places 

•    All educational institutions to remain closed, except for normal administrative works or for online classes.

•    Prior permission from the respective Administrative Officer for Funeral/Last rites related activities and the gatherings shall not exceed 20 persons.

•    Similar permission needed for Marriage related activities and the gathering shall not exceed 50 (fifty) persons.

•    Religious places for public in containment zones shall remain closed. 

•    Shops within the jurisdiction of Town Councils shall be regulated as per the decision of the concerned Administrator while stand-alone shops and outlets outside the purview of the Town Councils shall be permitted to open as per normal hours. However, proper protocol must be ensured in all places. 

•    Spitting and the sale/consumption of tobacco and tobacco products in public places shall continue to be strictly prohibited.

•    Restriction on gathering at public places of more than 5 (five) people.

1.    Any form of unauthorized travel: inter-district, inter-state banned till further notice.

All Administrative Officers shall set up and "Enforcement Committee" to ensure that the guidelines are strictly followed, it said. 

Pecuniary penalties/fines and other penalties may be imposed for wilful violators under relevant sections of the National Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Indian Penal Code (IPC).