Manipur authority declares Greater Imphal areas as containment zone

Our Correspondent
Imphal, April 30 (EMN): In order to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the wake of sudden surge in positive cases and continuous fatality, the authority in Manipur has declared “the whole of Greater Imphal as a containment zone with immediate effect” for a period of seven days.

Chief Secretary in-charge, MH Khan, who is also the chairman in-charge of state executive committee of the state disaster management authority, issued an order in this regard on Thursday night.

As per the order, all activities and movement of persons would remain suspended during the period in the containment area except the permitted activities. The permitted activities included movement of goods vehicles carrying oxygen/ oxygen cylinders, all healthcare facilities including animal healthcare, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and movement of healthcare workers, all pharmacies including those selling veterinary medicines, all persons going for Covid-19 vaccination, Covid testing and medical emergencies.

“All employees and staff working in Home, Health, Relief and Disaster Management, Police departments and district administrations (all other offices in Greater Imphal area will remain closed),” the order said. It also included “All personnel deployed for providing essential services like drinking water, power, fire fighting, waste/garbage collection, ATM services.”

Other permitted activities included all vegetable, fish/ meat vendors (except in Ima Keithels or women’s market), milk booths, all grocery stores including animal feed shops for purchase from 6 am to 10 am.

At the same time, wholesale shops in Imphal are asked to open on rotation from 6 am to 10 am, it said.

Opening of petrol pumps would be as usual by ensuring that there is no crowding, while all establishment and personnel relating to electronic and print media, telecom service providers, opening of hotels for lodging (except restaurants) besides food and grocery delivery service providers are permitted.

Imphal airport would remain open and movement of staff and passengers would be permitted, it added.

In view of the announcement of Greater Imphal as a containment zone for seven days to check the Covid-19 spread, the state capital wore a desolate look on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Health department has started to prepare for Covid vaccination for all persons in the age group between 18-44 years in the state. However, the authority is yet to announce the tentative dates for the said vaccination programme.

In a statement issued by the directorate of Health Services and National Health Mission, it advised all persons between 18-44 years to enrol in the Cowin portal stating that vaccination for this age group would be based on prior online appointment. It informed that walk-in vaccination would not be permitted as per government of India guidelines.

“Appointments for vaccination will be given online on Cowin portal as soon as the vaccines are available,” the statement said.

It may be mentioned that the central government has decided to expand Covid vaccination to the 18-44 age group from May 1,2021.

A total of 1,73,056 persons including healthcare workers and frontline workers in Manipur got the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine so far.