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Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 29 (EMN): The sixth session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), which was earlier scheduled to be held today, July 30, has been deferred to August 13, after six of their staff were detected positive for Covid-19.
NLA Commissioner and Secretary Dr. PJ Antony informed that “certain unforeseen developments have emerged prompting the deferment of the sixth session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly scheduled for July 30 at 09:30 am. Accordingly, the Hon’ble Governor has indicated August 13, 2020 for the deferred sitting of the assembly.”
Further details regarding the session will be communicated eventually, it was informed.
Following the detection of Covid-19 among six NLA staff on July 29, the office has been sealed for 48 hours by Kohima district task force.
“In view of the detection of six Covid-19 positive staff in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat, the district task force (DTF) during its emergency meeting held on July 29, 2020 decided to close/seal the office for 48 hours w.e.f July 29, 2020 as per the SOP on preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19,” stated deputy commissioner of Kohima Gregory Thejawelie, in a circular addressed to the principal secretary of Home.
It added that the fumigation and disinfection of the office premises is being initiated, following all health safety measures and SOPs of the government.
The proposed sealed area is mapped and cordoned off and the public and all concerned are advised to follow all safety precautions of wearing masks all the time, frequently washing hands and maintain social/physical distances to ensure public hygiene and personal safety within the proximity of the sealed area, it added.
One NLA legislator tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. It was detected following a compulsory test conducted for all legislators, security personnel, and drivers prior to the NLA session that was supposed to take place today.
According to a source, the legislator’s security personnel as well as staff of two other legislators also tested positive for Covid-19.
“As per protocol for the upcoming assembly session, I tested for Covid-19 and the result is -ve. Unfortunately, two support staff tested +ve and are in Covid Care Centre. As a precautionary measure, I am on self-quarantine, adhering to the existing SOP and will continue to work from home”, tweeted R Khing, advisor for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, and Women Resource Development.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party said in a statement on Wednesday that NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer’s initiative in getting all the MLAs and their supporting staff, security personnel, drivers and those working in the Assembly Secretariat tested for Covid-19 was praiseworthy.
However, it said the last minute testing should have been avoided and it should have been completed a week ago.
‘Now that MLA and staff of the assembly secretariat among others have tested positive for the Covid-19, it is not safe for the assembly secretariat to continue normal functioning,’ the statement read, adding that opposition leader TR Zeliang had written to the Speaker to defer the date of assembly sitting.
‘Fresh detection of Covid-19 positive cases from among the staff of the assembly secretariat including MLA and their supporting staff calls for immediate attention of the state government,’ it added.