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Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 22 (EMN): Amid speculation among the citizens of Kohima and Dimapur on whether or not a total lockdown would be imposed after a high powered committee (HPC) on Covid-19 meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday, it has now emerged that the ball is left in the court of the district task forces to take the call on the matter.
Minister for Planning and Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Neiba Kronu told journalists that the HPC had decided at its emergency meeting on Wednesday, July 22 not to impose total lockdown in the state.
However, Kronu who is also the state’s spokesperson on Covid-19, reiterated that with regard to the demands of the wards and civil society in Kohima and Dimapur to impose a total lockdown, the HPC had empowered the district task force (DTF) of the two districts to make the decision according to the need of the districts.
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha also informed in an update that the HPC reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the state, particularly in Kohima and Dimapur in the backdrop of rising number of positive cases being detected outside the quarantine centres and implementation of various containment measures by the districts.
“The HPC after due deliberation has directed that the DTF Kohima and Dimapur may hold emergency meetings, and after taking into consideration all relevant facts may take a decision for taking stricter and additional lock down measures for a certain period as per the need of the district for enhancing active surveillance, more comprehensive contact tracing, early detection of suspected cases and isolation measures so as to break the chain of transmission and prevent further spread,” the update read.
Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP), Neibulie Kiewhuo, informed Eastern Mirror that its representatives had a joint meeting with the district task force chairman and the deputy commissioner of Kohima, Thejawelie Gregory, along with the principal director of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.
Kiewhuo stated that the government had listened to AKMWP’s appeal and it (government) had assured the association to take up the matter to the state’s HPC.
“If it is turned down again as not warranted as of now, we will call a lightning closedown immediately,” he said.
An update from DIPR also informed that Kohima District Task Force on Covid-19 has decided in its meeting to propose again to the government for total lockdown within the Kohima municipality following the detection of more positive cases in various colonies in the district in the last few days.
The district task force’s meeting with AKMWP was said to be held earlier in the day, while the HPC held its meeting later in the afternoon, where the DTF of Kohima and Dimapur were given a free hand on imposition of total lockdown.
In the wake of a person residing at Seikhazou colony in Kohima being tested Covid-19 positive, the deputy commissioner and chairman of district task force Kohima, Thejawelie Gregory, has ordered the sealing of the area through a notification on Wednesday.
The DC stated that Seikhazou colony is been sealed to contain the spread of infection and to expedite necessary contact tracing of the infected person. And all movements of persons and vehicle is strictly restricted and prohibited within the defined “seal area” and is placed under active medical surveillance, it read.
A total of five colonies – Seikhazou, Keziekie, Naga Bazaar, Lower Chandmari and D block – have been declared as contaminated zones in Kohima now.