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Dimapur, March 6 (EMN): Chief Secretary Temjen Toy held a video conference with all the deputy commissioners in the state to ensure that Nagaland is prepared to tackle the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) at the chief secretary’s office in Kohima on Friday, according to a DIPR report.
The chief secretary emphasised on the importance of precautionary measures through preventive action, and the preparedness of the state in the event of detection of Covid-19.
Further, the chief secretary directed all the districts to form District Task Force (DTF) to be headed by the respective deputy commissioners.
“The DCs will work in close coordination with the CMOs and all the other stakeholders including School Education and District Disaster Management Authority,” it stated.
He directed the directorate of Health and Family Welfare to open an official Twitter handle to provide official updates on the epidemic, and dispel rumours. He warned that ‘necessary action would be taken against those who spread rumours and fake news’.
The chief secretary also directed the department concerned to ensure personal protective equipments like N-95 masks and thermal scanner are available at all the units.
He further stated that there would be no ban on foreign tourists since the department concerned would be closely monitoring them.
Menukhol John, Principal Secretary of School Education, speaking at the conference, asked all the DCs to ensure that the advisory, which has been issued, is sent to all the schools in their respective districts.
Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie, Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, informed that Kohima and Dimapur have already identified quarantine locations, wherein 50 beds are in place to be used in the event of detection.
He mentioned that every district is prepared and more places would be identified as quarantine locations in the other districts. He also asked the villagers to report to the authorities, in the event of flu-like symptoms.
The deputy commissioner of Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi,expressed the need for more thermal scanners at Dimapur airport, and scanning of all arriving passengers. At present, only passengers having travel history from 12 majorly-affected countries are being scanned. Announcements would also be made at Dimapur railway station directing passengers with travel history from the 12 countries to go through the process of thermal scanning.
An official from the department of Health and Family Welfare informed Eastern Mirror that a meeting was held in New Delhi via video conference with various state officials and doctors who are taking stock of coronavirus in their respective states.
“We learned a lot and shared our views and perspectives; we will come back and implement what was discussed and learned,” said the official, adding that the ‘way forward and the next action plan are more important’.
“We are learning more and more everyday about the virus; it is evolving and the response keeps changing. Hence, we should not panic or spread false reports,” the official said.
New Delhi, March 6 (IANS): One more person on Friday tested positive for novel coronavirus or Covid-19, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, taking the total number of cases in the country to 31.
“One suspected Covid-19 case has been confirmed as positive,” said the Health Ministry.
According to the Ministry the latest patient is a resident of Delhi.
The person has travel history of Thailand and Malaysia.
“The patient is stable and being monitored,” said ministry.
Apart from this, the reported 30 cases include the previous three cases from Kerala, who have now cured and discharged from the hospital. In addition, there are three positive cases from Delhi-NCR, of which two have travel history from Italy, and one has travel history of Iran.
Six patients in Agra contacted the infection from the first Delhi patient allegedly during a birthday party.
One confirmed case of the disease has been reported in Telangana. The infected person visited Dubai where he picked up the infection from a person from Singapore.
The Ministry also said that all patients are stable and being closely monitored.