Coronavirus: Kohima to ‘restrict’ domestic, foreign tourists

No similar measure yet for Nagaland’s porous Dimapur

Dimapur, March 12 (EMN): The health authorities of Kohima have announced ‘restriction’ of domestic and foreign “tourists” into the district as a preventive measure against the coronavirus.

However, there are no reports about whether a similar measure would be decided for Dimapur district, which is perceived to be the most porous district in the state.

Community organisations of another district, Mon, had also banned domestic and foreign ‘tourists.’     

The department of Information and Public Relations (IPR) gave updates on Thursday about the decision to band ‘tourists’ to the district.

The Kohima District task force on the COVID-19 conducted a meeting on March 12 to review the level of preparedness against the coronavirus, in the deputy commissioner’s office chamber in Kohima.

The IPR reported that the meeting decided to take a number of measures. The measures include restriction of domestic and foreign tourists into the district to the ‘higher level’; departments in concern to facilitate identified Isolation wards with minimum required facilities; departments in concern to take up the issue of scarcity of surgical masks and hand sanitizers with the agencies in concern for price regulation; inspect identified hospitals for isolation wards, which include the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, Chedema Ayush Hospital, Jakhama hospital and the TB Hospital Khuzama, the updates stated. 

They are also to check availability of basic requirement facilities and create more educational events concerning the advisory of the ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the WHO concerning hand hygiene and others. This is to be done through hoardings and All India Radio at Kohima besides though the print and electronic media.

The deputy commissioner of Kohima, Gregory Thejawelie, presided over the meeting, the updates stated.  He reviewed the district’s level of preparedness on the issue, it was informed. The officials were given updates about the status of surveillance against the COVID-19 in Kohima district w.e.f January 28 till date. Likewise, it was for details concerning Naga, domestic and foreign travellers with a travel history to the affected countries, who have been in Kohima.

According to the IPR, the official informed that in accordance with directives, the district surveillance team had been closely monitoring travellers “as per the report where the travellers have been advised for 14 days home isolation and observation for 28 days, which majority of them have completed with no suspected or confirmed cases reported till date.” 

However, in view of the sudden spike in the number of cases and deaths in the affected countries, the IPR stated that the meeting had a lengthy discussion on various issues pertaining to the preparedness level, and matters about the ‘present scarcity of surgical masks and hand sanitizers in the district,’ the IPR stated. 

Dimapur

A similar meeting to discuss the COVID-19 was conducted by Dimapur’s authorities. According to a press release from the deputy commissioner’s office received here on Thursday, the meeting discussed measures to be employed as part of the ‘preparedness.’

Pangnyu Phom, minister of Health & Family Welfare, conducted a meeting on March 12 with the chief medical officer of Dimapur Dr. T Pangjung Sangtam and the medical superintendent of District Hospital of Dimapur Dr. Kheshito Zhimo in regard to the COVID-19 “preparedness in the district” following the declaration of the COVID-19  as a pandemic by the WHO.

The press release stated that the members were ‘in agreement to carry out’ a number of measures in the district: “Display posters and banners on COVID-19 awareness at strategic locations in the district and also through print media, AIR and Doordarshan; check the availability and prices of mask and hand sanitizers in the market; check the spread of rumours and false messages on social media; create awareness in schools and colleges; issue IEC or information, education and communication materials, about the COVID-19 at the Railway Station and airport, bus terminals, and check gates and to taxis.

Another measure is to educate the people using faith-based organisations, the press release stated. 

Mokokchung

The department of Information and Public Relations also gave updates about the Mokokchung district administration warning against “exorbitant rates” of surgical masks and sanitizers. The administration has urged the public to report such instances through complaints registration.   

Mokokchung’s Deputy Commissioner Limawabang Jamir has directed all the pharmacies and shops in Mokokchung district to ‘detest’ from selling surgical masks and hand sanitizers at ‘exorbitant rates.’

“Any complaint or report received in the office of the undersigned would be taken seriously and booked under relevant sections of law. This notice is issued in the interest of the general public, keeping in mind the panic buying tendency due to the epidemic of the Covid-19 cases in many of the states,” the updates stated.

The public are informed to register such complaints with the inspector of Mokokchung Municipal Council at the contact number 9436601051, the IPR stated.