Lifting restrictions does not mean pandemic is over— Nagaland Health authorities

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 6 (EMN): Health authorities in Nagaland have cautioned against letting the guard down against Covid-19 simply because the government had announced a number of relaxations in ‘Unlock 4’.  

The principal director for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie, during a press conference in Kohima on Sunday, noted with worry that after the ‘Unlock 4’ relaxations were made, ‘people in many places (in Nagaland) think the pandemic is over’.

“Social distancing is almost a forgotten thing, people do not wear mask; and even if they wear, they do not cover the mouth and nose properly,” he said.

The doctor pointed out that these days most of the cases detected are through contact tracing. “Therefore, with the lockdown lifted and with more relaxations, we have to be more careful and more pro-active with preventive measures,” he said

Suokhrie asserted that enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOP) is very important ‘which is beyond the Health department’s purview but everyone should take the responsibility by avoiding the 3Cs (crowded places, close contact settings and confined or enclosed places) and following the 3Ws (wear mask, wash hands, watch distance)’.

He also said that ‘seasonal type of flu is also coming’, and therefore this is the time to practice safety measures. He reminded that the Covid-19 virus ‘is going to stay with us for some time and we do not know for how long it will continue’.

According to him, the new SOP for testing, discharging of patients, quarantine and isolation will be updated soon.