April 16, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 129

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020 Pages 6 ` 4.00

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INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 6

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TR disputes claims on COVID Hospital Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): Echoing the same concerns of various organisations over the level of preparedness of COVID19 Hospital Dimapur as highlighted in two issues of Nagaland Post, former chief minister and Leader of Opposition (LoO), T.R. Zeliang, who visited COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur, Wednesday concluded that “tall claims of the government is not in sync with the ground reality.”

When contacted by Nagaland Post, Zeliang informed that he had visited the COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur along with NPF party legislators- Vikheho Swu, Azheto Zhimomi, Muthingnyuba Sangtam and K. Khalo – to ascertain the ground reality over the preparedness of the hospital.

During their visit, Zeliang said it was found that the hospital was still under renovation and yet to be completed. He said “The hospital was in mess and under renovation. The hospital management claimed that it will be completed within few days.”

He also confirmed the

COVID hospital Dmu nurses withdraw complaint on PPE DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): Nursing staff of COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur Wednesday reportedly withdrew the complaints concerning lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) In a letter addressed to the principal director health and family welfare (H&FW), COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur Medical Superintendent, Dr. Z Kheshito Zhimo and Nursing superintendent Radile Mero said that on receiving the complaints, the matter was immediately discussed with the nursing superintendent and assistant nursing superintendent and accordingly the nurses have withdrawn their complaint and the issue has been settled and resolved amicably.

It may be mentioned that the nurses lodged complaint with the Medical Superintendent (MS) Dimapur threatening not to assist or attend any suspected COVID-19 cases without proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

They also demanded that laboratory technician should be detailed for assisting the pathologist since the nurses alone were finding difficult to cover all the fields of duties.

This is it!

“Amazing. Your fingers on the phone move as fast as your thoughts.”

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veracity of the news report in Nagaland Post, that there were only four ICU beds with ventilators in the ICU section besides shortage of PPE even for working doctors and nurses on duty.

It may be noted that DHD did not have any ICU facility prior to the COVID19 pandemic.

This newspaper reported that after declaration of COVID-19 as pandemic, a newly constructed building for “Trauma Centre” was converted to COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Zeliang disclosed that the team also visited the hospital storeroom where they were told by the staff that the “substandard” Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) was replaced on April 14.

Zeliang said though the substandard PPE were replaced, “The masks available in the storeroom were not the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended N95 masks. Maybe they don’t know what N95 mask is,” remarked Zeliang.

“Doctors and nurses in the frontline are without the WHO recommended masks. If the government cannot provide complete

KOHIMA, APR 15 (NPN): Following the setting up of a “COVID-19 war room” at his office, chief secretary Temjen Toy has assured of personally monitoring work of surveillance teams, whether they were working according to plan and the tracking process of those in quarantine.

Speaking to Nagaland Post at his office chamber here on Wednesday, the chief secretary admitted that performance of all the district-level surveillance teams was not satisfactory and that in some cases it was pathetic. He, however, expressed overall satisfaction at the way most teams were working and exuded confidence there would be less confusion in the days to come following the setting up of the “war room”.

He said he would be personally monitoring all developments from the war

NATIONAL, PAGE 3

Storm lashes Lockdown curbs to be eased from Apr 20 Nagaland; power lines snapped STATES ASKED TO ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE OF LOCKDOWN NORMS Staff Reporter

(L) Storeroom of COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur (R) FFP1 mask available at the storeroom.

PPE at least the recommended mask should be provided to all the doctors and nurses while carrying out their normal duties,” said Zeliang.

Zeliang also provided a photo of a mask stored in the hospital storeroom which had “FFP1” printed on it, revealing that all masks were of FFP1 grade.

He said the medical staff in the hospital also complained that they were not being provided with food despite working extra hours on COVID duty.

He wondered how could the government expect doctors, nurses and staff to face hunger while on duty when they were risking

their lives in the service of the people?

Zeliang said the team also interacted with the chief medical officer (CMO), medical superintendent (MS) and other staff at the chamber of the MS during the course of their visit.

Meanwhile, in a statement made available to Nagaland Post, Zeliang said the state government was “miles and miles away from being well-prepared”.

He requested the government not to mislead the people with “false statements” but accept their shortcomings and work sincerely towards achieving and providing a “well equipped hospital”.

CS to personally monitor COVID teams Correspondent

Govt issues fresh guidelines for lockdown

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room and, based on the information received, necessary directives would be given out by him accordingly. Headed by the chief secretary, the war room was set up on Tuesday to act as an integrated and centralised command control centre visà-vis COVID-19.

He claimed that the State government was taking all measures to contain the virus even though there were certain loopholes, and which the government was trying to plug them. Toy said chief minister Neiphiu Rio had assigned one minister, one adviser and an opposition member in all districts to oversee the ongoing preparation, even as health & family welfare (H&FW) principal director Dr Vizolie Z Suokhrie had personally visited all districts and had given his feedback. He however said he would not sit content with only beds and ventilators but would find out whether those were

functional or not. On reports of inferior quality of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other such medical gears being provided to frontline health workers, the chief secretary said though not everyone was authorised to speak, but some officials had gone to the press to create panic and fear in the minds of the people.

He explained that with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, there was global shortage of protective gears like N95 masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, PPE, ventilators, etc., adding Government of India had distributed some equipment to hospitals for emergency during the H1N1 epidemic. Subsequently more protective gears were purchased and distributed.

But now, he said the State government had constituted quality control board and unless the materials were certified by QCB, these would not be distributed.

DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): Power supply was snapped in several places of Nagaland after violent storm battered the state Wednesday evening. A powerful storm reportedly uprooted trees and poles in many areas besides causing damage to properties.

According to a power department official, the Metha substation and Industrial substation in Dimapur have been shutdown as the department was attempting to detect the power lines that have been snapped. The official, however, informed that the department was trying to restore normal power supply at the earliest.

Reports reaching here also stated that several districts were hit by storm on Wednesday.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the convergence of strong moist winds from the Bay of Bengal would bring fairly widespread to widespread rainfall, along with the possibility of isolated heavy showers, over North East (Cont’d on p-3) region.

NEW DELHI, APR 15 (PTI): Agriculture, construction, Information Technology, industrial units in the SEZs and rural areas are among the sectors where the coronavirus-induced lockdown restrictions will be lifted from April 20 in a bid to kickstart the country’s battered economy and reduce the distress caused to millions of people. As the second phase of the national lockdown came into force on Wednesday, the Home Ministry unveiled the ‘consolidated revised guidelines’ (Details on NP website).

Home Ministry also directed all states and UTs to ensure strict implementation of lockdown guidelines to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, failing which relaxations, which are likely to be announced on April 20, to mitigate hardships would be withdrawn.

The relaxations lay strict emphasis on social distancing with a warning by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla that it will be withdrawn if there is any violation of norms for the lockdown that ends on May 3, as coronavirus cases

crossed 1,000 for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. As part of series of restrictions, spitting in public places has been prohibited and it will be a punishable offence with a fine under the Disaster Management Act. Any violation may result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine, or both.

Wearing of masks in public places has also been made compulsory and sale of liquor, gutka and tobacco totally banned. The guidelines come a day after PM Narendra Modi announced the extension of the threeweek nationwide lockdown for another 19 days till May 3 to battle the coronavirus pandemic. He had also indicated conditional easing of some curbs after April 20 in areas which are not hotspots to allow some “select necessary activities” The Health Ministry has identified 170 districts as COVID-19 hotspots and 207 districts as potential hotspots, officials said, reiterating yet again there has been no community transmission of the disease in the country so far. Addressing the daily briefing, Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry

of Health, said states have been asked to classify districts which have reported a higher number of cases as hotspots, the districts where cases have been reported as non-hotspots, and green zones where no cases have been reported. “Hotspots are those districts which are reporting more number of cases or where the rate of growth of COVID-19 cases is high,” Agarwal said, adding a detailed direction has been issued to states stating consolidated efforts are required to utilise this period of lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a video conference with all chief secretaries, DGPs, health secretaries, collectors, SPs, municipal commissioners and CMOs where hotspots were discussed and orientation on field level implementation of containment strategy was given. “They were told about large outbreak containment strategies, cluster containment strategies. Delineation of buffer and containment zone, parameter mapping, defining of entry and exit point were also discussed in detail,” Agarwal said.

AYO calls off proposed Only AHoDs,HoDs to interact with media APR 15 (NPN): note of various confidential data lockdown of Kohima DIMAPUR, Nagaland chief secretary Temjen related to COVID-19 being leaked

DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): Following the intervention and request made by Angami Public Organisation (APO), the Angami Youth Organisation (AYO) has resolved to call off the total lockdown in Kohima. AYO president Kekhrie Pfukha and vice president Neidilhoutuo Sechu said the decision was arrived with the hope that the government will render its best effort in the fight against Covid-19 here in the state capital.

With the second-phase of the nation-wide lockdown being extended from till May 3, AYO was hopeful that the state government will positively respond to the need of the hour by taking all preventive and safety measures.

AYO also assured to extend it support to the government as and when required.

To clear any misunderstanding, AYO stated that the intention to impose the total lockdown was for the larger interest of the people, and solely to strengthen the directives laid down by the government.

Reiterating that the safety of the people was their priority, AYO said they were prepared to go to any extent in rendering services for the well-being of “our people and our land.”

“We have the sincere desire to celebrate with the government and the people of Nagaland, the victory over Covid-19. We sincerely appeal to all sections of the society to join hands in the fight against this deadly virus,” AYO stated (Cont’d on p-3) and appealed all to stay home and stay safe.

Toy in an advisory on April 15 has informed that no government official, except authorized personnel, will be allowed to speak, interview and issue statement on behalf of the department to the media.

The advisory has been issued in view various reports in the media that has created “confusion in the minds of the people”, a DIPR report stated.

In this regard, Toy has asked all AHoDs and HoDs to take note that no officer other than the concerned AHoD/HoD are authorized to speak to the media on issues pertaining to functioning matters of the respective departments. He warned that any unauthorized official found making statements to any media or press will face disciplinary action.

Warns against leaking confidential data: Nagaland government, under the Nagaland Epidemic Disease (COVID- 19) Regulations, 2020, has warned that it is a punishable offence to reveal the identity of COVID-19 affected person(s). Taking serious

to social media by unscrupulous persons, the government warned of strict action against those involved in doing so.

Strict action against rumour mongers: In the wake of fake news and wrong information being circulated on social media causing panic amongst the public, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur Anoop Khinchi has issued an order, under Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, IT Act 2008 and Section 188 of the IPC, to penalize any individual creating/spreading false information through any means.

Meanwhile, when contacted government sources pointed out that many individuals have resorted to spreading wrong, mischievous and misleading information on social media, particularly WhatsApp and Facebook, creating confusion and also tarnishing the image of individuals publicly, causing mental trauma.

The government will take strict action against such individuals, it added.

DTAH shocked at State’s level of preparedness Former MLA Rev Suohie Mhasi passes away DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): Newly formed organization styled as - Dimapur Tribal Apex Hohos (DTAH)- has expressed shock at the State government’s level of preparedness in tackling the threat of COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint statement, DTAH sessional convener Zelhou Angami and sessional general secretary K Mar Lemtur, dismissed the government’s “oftrepeated claims” of being fully prepared to fight the pandemic as “hollow”.

They alleged that the State was “ill-prepared” in terms of medical equipment and infrastructure and supply of essential commodities(citing the inconvenience faced by general public).

DTAH demanded to know as to why the

government misled the general public with false assurances when there was no testing laboratory, personal protective equipments (PPE) and other sufficient protective gears for frontline warriors against COVID-19 in the State, especially in Dimapur district despite the pandemic having erupted worldwide few months back.

The DTAH also alleged that the PPE and mask/respirator sets supplied to medical staffs were incomplete and of poor quality. It pointed out that masks were of lower grade (FFP1) instead of the recommended FFP3 or N95 grade. DTAH said supplying such substandard protective equipments in this situation was “a crime against humanity”.

It also demanded

that frontline warriors in Dimapur and in other parts of the State be immediately provided with complete PPE sets along with recommended FFP3 or N95 grade masks.

DTAH also expressed concern over the poor condition of District Hospital, Dimapur, designated as COVID-19 Hospital, where living conditions even of VIP rooms were unfit for humans. DTAH has held the government solely responsible for the hospital’s deplorable condition.

DTAH also demanded that renovation works , which had slowed down due to unavailability of funds, be completed by utilising the funds received from the Centre for the purpose of combating COVID-19. The DTAH also demanded that the

government accord priority to Dimapur as it was the “gateway to Nagaland” which called for immediate setting up of a high-tech BSL-3 lab to test COVID-19 samples.

Further, DTAH said it has observed that social distancing was a failure in Dimapur district due to lack of a proper mechanism which only encouraged panic buying among many residents.

The hoho also urged upon the government and district administration to pursue containment in an aggressive manner. It also appealed to general public to follow the government guidelines and instructions of staying home, maintaining social distancing when venturing out and complying with other protocols of the lockdown period.

DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): Former MLA, Rev. L Suohie Mhasi passed away Wednesday morning at Oking Hospital. He was 98.

CM, others mourn Rev. Mhasi’s demise: In a condolence message, chief minister Rio said he was deeply saddened by the demise of Rev. Mhasi, who he said was well known for his contributions to the society.

Starting his career as a teacher in 1955, the chief minister said late reverend held important posts through 1950s. During that period, Rev. Mhasi served as the president of the Angami Tribal Council and had the distinction of representing the Angamis to the final Convention of the Naga People’s Convention held at Mokokchung in 1959.

He also participated in the First General Election in 1964, but resigned en masse the same year.

From 1966, he served

Late L Suohie Mhasi

the church ministry in various capacities.

Rev. Mhasi was instrumental in hosting the Billy Graham Crusade in 1972 and served as the secretary of the Nagaland Peace Council in 1974. Thereafter, he served for many years as the pastor of Rusoma CRC. Describing late Rev. Mhasi as “an enthusiastic and selfless social worker”, the chief minister said he held important posts in a number of organisations engaged in unity amongst the Nagas and welfare of the elderly. Rio said

he was also an accomplished writer and published four books.

The chief minister said that late reverend’s lifelong contributions to the society and the people of the state would always be remembered.

In his demise, Rio said he has lost a father figure and a noble soul, adding that his absence would be deeply felt by all.

The chief minister conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief and prayed that Almighty God grant them comfort and solace.

Dy. CM: The state deputy chief minister Y Patton expressed grief at the passing of Rev. Lhousuohie Mhasi, who he said a spiritual leader as well as a social activist. In a condolence message, Patton said late reverend’s contributions to the Nagas’ journey towards a common wellbeing were immeasurable.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

COVID-19 pandemic: Advisories, directives & preparedness reports

DIMAPUR: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government and its agencies along and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have taken up several measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Advisories, directives to tackle the virus have been issued for the strict adherence.

Dimapur DC Dimapur on restriction of movement

in exercise of the power conferred by Section 30(1)&34(l) under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, DC Dimapur & Chairman DDMA, Dimapur, has issued an order citing that no individual or village or colony authorities shall prevent or stop the movement of administrative officers/magistrate and medical personnel providing essential services within Dimapur District.

The order stated that no individual or village/ colony authorities shall prevent/stop the movem e nt o f ind iv id ua l s/ NGOs authorised by the district authority to carry out emergency duties in the wake of COVID-19 and labourers assisting the government authorities/ authorised organisations

working for COVID-19 should be allowed free passage to and fro from their respective homes.

DC further informed that any person/organisations violating the containment measures will be liable to be prosecuted against as per the provisions of section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under section 188 of the IPC.

Colony bakeries to open

DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi has permitted bakeries located in colonies and villages under Dimapur District to remain open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with immediate effect. However, bakeries located in the main Town area were informed to remain closed till further orders.

Longleng Longleng DTF holds meeting on COVID-19

In view of nationwide lockdown extended till May 3, an emergency meeting of the Longleng District Task Force (DTF) on COVID-19 was held on April 14 at DC office complex.

According to DIPR report, Deputy Commissioner & chairman DTF Longleng, M. Shayung Phom, who chaired the meeting, asserted that the primary objective of the meeting was to assess the preparedness in combating COVID-19 and ensuring safety of the citizens.

The DC urged the members to give valuable suggestions and measures to ensure that Longleng remained free from the spreads of the virus. Phom also asked the NGOs to play a vital role in educating and ensuring that public adheres to the guidelines is-

Kiphire USLP prohibits entry United Sangtam Likhum Pumji (USLP) has prohibited entry within Kiphire district and Longkhim – Chare zone under Tuensang district till further order.

In press release, USLP president, T. Seopi Sangtam and general secretary, P Achumse Sangtam said the order was in consonance government order to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 and to stem any apprehension and anxiety arising out of the detection of COVID-19 in Dimapur and taking into consideration

Exempted shops to open on April 16

the appeal of the people Kiphire district and Longkhim-Chare zone under Tuensang district.

USLP has appealed to all those who are staying in Dimapur, Kohima and outside of Nagaland not to travel and be where they are presently located till the lockdown period was lifted. USLP has also asked those under home quarantine to strictly adhere to quarantine guidelines and warned that any breach of this advisory by any individual would be treated as an affront in its fight against COVID-19.

In exercise of the power conferred under Section 22 (h) of the Disaster management Act, 2005, and the power conferred under Section 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, Orenthung Lotha, has directed all departments that the lockdown measure would continue to remain up to May 3 to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the district.

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Deputy Commissioner Kohima, has informed that exempted shops in Kohima will open on April 16 from 7 a.m. to 12 noon.

The order has been facilitated to allow citizens buy essential commodities from exempted shops like grocery, bakery and pharmacy.

In this connection, the public have been informed to collect the required essential commodities from the nearest groceries and shops in their respective colonies and also to strictly maintain social distancing in that particular areas.

CTC resolves complete shutdown of town

Chiephobozou Town Council (CTC) held an emergency meeting on April 14 and resolved to completely shut down the town area for two days i.e. April 16-17.

In a press release, CTC chairman Neichutuo Rio and secretary, Vineizo Tsurho have issued the following directives – all shops and business establishments to be shut down completely; farmers/ cultivators to cross the town area before 7 a.m. and return after 5 p.m. only; no loitering around in the town area along national highway; local residents travelling to Kohima or any other place is restricted and any vehicle parking on the roadside in the town area is restricted.

However, CTC has exempted administration, police, medical, fire service, water supply and electricity duty.

NPP dismayed over lack of preparedness

DIMAPUR: National People’s Party (NPP) Nagaland unit said the first COVID-19 positive case has proved the State government’s negligence and lackadaisical attitude towards tackling the pandemic, besides revealing beyond doubt that the State’s hospitals were totally unprepared for this calamity.

In a statement, the party mentioned that State government seemed to be least bothered about frontline health workers and suggested that it opened its eyes and see how they were suffering the most as they were nagalandpost.com Poll exposed to high risk.

Observing that there was a Q.: Should the IPL be c o n d u c t e d w i t h o u t growing social trend of despising c r o w d d u e t o health workers and not showing coronavirus? gratitude to them, NPP alleged that there had been certain instances 100% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– where ambulance drivers, nurses, 90% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– quarantined individuals and their 80% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– families were facing social stigma 70% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and discrimination in their colonies 60% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and villages, which was totally 50% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– unacceptable in a Christian State 40% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– like “ours”. It demanded that the 30% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– government ensured protection 20% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– and welfare of the frontline health 10% –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– workers as without them, “our first 0% A B C line of medical support” would be compromised.

19% A Yes. In the event of an outbreak of 69% B No. the disease on a large scale, if there 12% C Can’t Say. were no frontline health workers and if the nearby States refuse to take Next poll in any patients, whom would the Q: H a s i n t e r n a t i o n a l public turn to, the party asked.

Pointing out the inefficiency of lockdown benefitted nature’s recovery? the State government in handling the whole situation, NPP asked  Yes what it had done till now except  No eye-washing the general public. The  Can’t say party asked why the doctors and nurses were being provided with WEATHER expired and inferior quality PPEs. FORECAST According to the party, pictures of mould-infected N-95 masks and April 16 dilapidated hospital buildings be(Temperature in ºC) Max Min ing circulated in newspapers and Agartala A strong moring thunderstorm 36 24 social media spoke volumes about Aizawl A strong moring thunderstorm 31 17 the total disregard of the State Guwahati Party sunny a stray t-storm 30 20 government towards the safety of frontline health workers, which had Imphal Mostly cloudy 30 15 put everyone at high risks that could Itanagar A stray afternoon t-storm 27 19 lead to more COVID-19 positive Shillong A morning t-storm in spots 20 15 cases in future.

Kohima Not as warm; a p.m. t-storm 23 15 The party expressed its displeaDimapur A strong afternoon t-storm 29 20 sure over the “wilful negligence” of Mkg 23 16 Cooler; a morning t-storm the citizens by the government as Tuensang Cooler 17 11 there was apparently no attempt on Wokha A morning thunderstorm cooler 23 19 the part of chief minister Neiphiu Zunheboto Couple of thungerstorms 20 14 Rio, most of his ministers and

DIMAPUR: In view of the ongoing nationwide lockdown due to COVID19 pandemic, Nagaland Foothill Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC) has informed that its proposed meeting with apex tribal Hohos scheduled to be held on April 17 at Dimapur has been postponed till further notice. NFHRCC has asked all stakeholders to take note of the same.

to the higher authority and expecting positive response.

SP Longleng, Yanithung Ezung, ADC Longleng, D. Robin, additional SP, Atopu Sumi, public leader, Y. B. Angam, vice president PPC, Longdang Temjen, assistant commandant VG, Nokchem and others shared their views and suggested suitable measures.

The members decided to allow grocery shops to open from 8 a.m. to 12 noon; use of token system with serial number to maintain social distancing in the bank and ATM; repairing of ATM booth at NST; refrain from use of unauthorised I/D cards and vehicle sticker on COVID-19; complete sealing of interstate border and to check and control of illegal supply of drugs in the district.

Kohima

Wokha DC Wokha informs departments

NFHRCC meeting postponed

sued by the government. He said urged people to refrain from use of social media to “attack” the administration, police and government agencies as they have been relentlessly working for the safety of the people.

Chief Medical Officer Longleng, Dr. Obsngjungla, Medical Superintendent of DHL, Dr. Lhouvizotuo Belho and District Surveillance Officer, Dr. Maria Yaden also presented reports.

The medical team informed that maximum criteria have been maintained as per the facilities provided by the government despite shortage of manpower and experts. They lamented that anesthesiology was not posted in the district to operate and use the ventilator. However, they informed that the matter was reported

MLAs to come out and allay the fears of the public by taking bold steps as true leaders, instead of going into hiding.

“We are totally dissatisfied by this attitude of the leaders of our State,” the statement emphasised.

NPP further demanded that the State government make necessary arrangements for supplying nutritious food cooked hygienically to those under quarantine, patients in hospitals, frontline health workers, etc. It also sought incentives for medical fraternity as done by some States, whereby salaries of doctors and nurses had been doubled, besides seeking appropriate and immediate steps for those people of Nagaland stranded outside the State due to the lockdown.

Asserting that merely distributing food items and advertising the same over social media was not going to solve the pandemic, NPP stressed that the need of the hour was to be fully equipped with proper medical and protection equipments for all concerned.

Regarding distribution of food items, the party pointed out that numerous NGOs and civic bodies were already doing a commendable job and even much better than the State Government. It advised the government to take the help and assistance of NGOs, villages, colonies, etc, if there was dearth of manpower in handling the situation. However before engaging such volunteers, it cautioned that they should be properly trained, equipped with PPEs and provided incentives and proper facilities. It demanded that the government take immediate and transparent action in purchasing and ordering the best quality, complete and adequate sets of PPEs, ventilators, testing kits, etc, for the entire State on a war-footing before a public unrest took place.

NPP requested opposition parties, civil society groups, tribal hohos, NGOs, etc, to come forward and raise their legitimate voice before the pandemic became an all-out disaster because of lack of proper facilities provided by the government despite all the financial grants being sanctioned by the Central government. It called for shedding aside personal differences and think collectively about the benefit of the people who were suffering.

Peren

DC Peren issues directives

Deputy Commissioner Peren, Sentiwapang Aier has issued the following directives in the interest of the public to further adopt stringent measures in the district in the effort to combat COVID-19: 1) N o n - e s s e n t i a l travel inter-district or within the district should be restricted except for those officials and department providing essential service who come under the exempted category.

2) Social distancing to be strictly enforced at all time.

3) In an effort to contain community

transmission and in view of the detection of positive case in Dimapur, strict surveillance and screening to be made in all check points.

4) Necessary directives to should be issued to all level functionaries and general public in all the subdivisions for those persons entering the district to declare themselves to the control room if they have come in contact with the person or have visited the locality or have been in the vicinity of Marwari patti, Ghorapatti and Zion Hospital in Dimapur, even if Asymptomatic and to

quarantine themselves at home for at least 14 days.

The protocol also applies to those who may have come into contact with those people indicated.

5) A n y a c t o f non-compliance will be deemed to have committed an offence punishable as per the provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897.

6) District surveillance unit under Medical Department to keep a tab on the symptoms of those who are in home quarantine or under observation.

New timing for shops at Jalukie town Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Jalukie has allowed opening of shops selling essential commodities within Jalukie Town from 8 a.m. to 12 noon with immediate effect till further order.

ADC informed that the following restriction is still enforced for strict compliance by all concerned:

1) All other shops and business establishments will remain closed except pharmacies, petrol pumps and grocery shop selling food grains, food items and other essential commodities.

2) Re s t r i c t i o n o n movement of all commercial and passenger vehicles both public and private.

3) Movement of all public is restricted except those coming out of their homes for procurement and distribution of essential commodities, availing essential services and medical facilities.

4) Wearing of mask is compulsory and strict social distancing should be maintained while buying

Zunheboto DC Zbto issues advisory for quarantine Deputy Commissioner, Zunheboto has issued an advisory for the information of all those individuals currently placed under Home Quarantine in particular and the public in general.

The advisory is as follows: 1. Any person who has recently travelled from outside into Zunheboto

Is Kohima prepared for tackling COVID-19 pandemic?

Correspondent KOHIMA, APR 15 (NPN): Following a person from Dimapur testing positive for COVID-19 in Guwahati on April 12, 2020, this correspondent from Nagaland Post visited a few private hospitals in Kohima to find out their preparedness for tackling such cases in the future.

Oking Hospital MD, Dr.Vikethonyü Kesiezie, told this correspondent that the hospital has 100 PPE, which were reusable at the moment.

Though they did not receive any consignment from the government till date, MD said they were comfortable with the numbers of masks, hand gloves and hand sanitizer for the hospital at the moment. He stated that they cannot stop people from coming to the hospital as there were other patients who needed medical attention. The hospital has 26 doctors and around 70-75 nurses.

Bethel hospital MS, Kezhalezo Angami, stated that they had separate screening room, adding that if anyone was found suspicious, they were sent to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK).

He said that since NHAK has been designated as COVID-19 hospital, they had been receiving many patients with kidney problem who needed dialysis. However, since they did not have enough equipment, he said they had to schedule appointments of patients. He said the hospital had also requested the NHAK to lend them their machine for dialysis to help the ailing people.

For those patients referred from NHAK with PMJAY card, he said they were being giving free treatment, which would be later compensated by the government. Angami said that though they did not have PPE, they had been making some handmade protective gears besides keeping biohazards HIV kit for any emergency case.

He also said they did not receive any equipment from the government, yet have kept some equipment ready for all the staff members.

Senior doctor and PRO NHAK, Dr.Senti stated that they had been firstly taking care of all health care representatives ranging from doctors to sweepers and cleaners. PRO said they had been given training batchwise for any situation.

He also said that the expenses of the patients sent to private hospitals from NHAK would be taken care by the government. The team led by minister had been coming in the hospital to review the status and upgrade the centre.

PRO stated that there were around 300 PPE that was received from government. He, however, said that quality and effectiveness of the suits would be known only when patients come. But since all the PPE had ISI mark, he expressed belief it would be of high quality. He also said that NHAK had been coordinating with the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) on the disposal of PPE suits.

PRO said that there were 10 ventilators in Kohima and since mechanical ventilators were to be handled only by specialist, they conducted refresher course. “We may not have what other big cities have but we are ready to tackle if anything comes for now,” he stated.

Dr. Senti said NHAK had also tied up with medical department and had been training all the doctors and nurses.

He said that the challenges they faced was mainly infrastructure.

He added that the current situation was an eye opener for everyone, be it the public, the politicians or any health care services. “It makes us realise that the most important thing in our life is our health,” Dr. Senti said.

Dr. Phyantsuthung stated that the number of patients that came to the hospital from March 24 till April 13 was 197. Out of the total, he said 53 samples were sent and 30 came negative while results of 23 were awaited. At present, NHAK has 67 beds ready to take in COVID-19 patients and 40 beds at Chedema.

district exhibiting a complaint of fever, cough and/ or shortness of breath during the quarantine period may immediately contact the CMO Control Room on the following numbers; a. +91-9383206362 b. +91-8787853473 c. +91-7085122471 They may call up the helpline numbers. The District Surveillance Team shall

immediately attend and examine the case at the place of Home Quarantine itself.

2. Those put under Home Quarantine have been reminded to strictly follow the Home Quarantine protocol advised by the Medical professionals.

Anybody found violating the protocol shall be liable for action under relevant sections of the Law.

174 samples test -ve; results of 10 awaited DIMAPUR: Of the 184 samples of suspected COVID cases sent for testing from the state including seven samples which were sent on April 15, 174 samples have tested negative while results of 10 samples were awaited, principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha stated.

In the daily briefing, Sinha said 18 tonnes of materials for BSL-3 Lab construction at NHAK, Kohima was expected to arrive on April 16 morning via Indian Air Force Aircraft depending on weather conditions.

India Covid death toll crosses 400: The number of COVID-19 infections inched towards 12,000 while the death toll crossed 400, according to official data. The death toll due to coronavirus rose to 392 with 39 fatalities reported since Tuesday evening, while the number of cases saw a jump of 1,118 to go up to 11,933 on Wednesday, according to the Union Health Ministry. (PTI)

Dimapur Police puts up posters as part of the district administration poster campaign to educate public on COVID19 pandemic. The posters also displayed phone numbers of control room for pandemic related emergency.

Kiphire Municipal Council disinfecting town and market area. (DIPR)

Police Baptist Church (PBC) Shamator provided light refreshments to frontline workers on COVID-19 duty at Shamator town. (DIPR) K Y M C

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national/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Govt issues fresh guidelines for lockdown Health team attacked in UP

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI): Industrial units in rural areas will be allowed to function from April 20 provided they follow social distancing norms while all kinds of public transport will be barred and public places closed till May 3, according to guidelines issued on Wednesday to enforce the second phase of the lockdown.

Wearing masks/face covers in public places is now compulsory across the country. Besides, spitting in public has been made a punishable offence and a strict ban enforced on the sale of “liquor, ‘gutka’ tobacco etc” under the new Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines that come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 3.

The prime minister also said necessary activities will be allowed from April 20 in identified areas of the country. A threeweek lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 came into effect after his announcement on March 24.

Laying out the dos and don’ts for phase two of the pan India lockdown, the guidelines state that all work places should make adequate arrangements for temperature screening and must provide sanitisers at convenient places.

Services provided by

Police use a drone to check people’s movement around Bandra Station in Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI) self-employed electricians, IT repair personnel, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters will be allowed from April 20.

While inter-state, inter-district movement of people, metro, bus services will be prohibited till May 3, the government has allowed industrial units located in rural areas to function from April 20 by observing strict social distancing norms.

Manufacturing, industrial units with access control in SEZs, export oriented units, industrial estates, industrial townships will also be allowed to function from that date.

Educational institutions, coaching centres,

domestic, international air travel, train services will remain suspended, the ministry said.

Public places such as cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools and bars will be shut too till May 3. All social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship will also be closed till then, according to the guidelines.

However, highway ‘dhaba’ (eateries), truck repairing shops, call centres for government activities will remain open from April 20.

Shops selling agricul-

ture machinery and those dealing with spare parts, supply chains and repairs as well as ‘custom hiring centres’ related to farm machinery will also be open from that day.

Activities permitted five days from now include those related to agricultural and the horticultural sectors, farmers and farm workers in the field as well as procurement of agri products.

Units manufacturing drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical infrastructure, including manufacture of ambulances, will be open from April 20.

The guidelines state

that grocery stores, fruits, vegetables shops/ carts, milk booths, poultry, meat and fish shop will remain open during the lockdown.

However, exemptions given from April 20 will not be applicable in COVID19 hotspots/containment zones. The document specifies that state/UT governments shall not dilute guidelines in any manner but may impose stricter measures in accordance with local requirements.

The Home Ministry said permitted industries must make arrangements for the stay of workers within their premises or in adjacent buildings by observing social distancing norms.

It said Defence, paramilitary, Health and Family Welfare, disaster management, NIC, FCI, NCC, Nehru Yuva Kendra and Customs offices will function without any restrictions.

Other ministries and departments will function with “100 per cent attendance” with deputy secretary and above rank officers.

“Remaining officers and staff to attend up to 33 per cent as per requirement,” it said.

According to the guidelines, in order to mitigate the public’s hardship, select additional activities will be allowed from April 20.

A team of medical personnel and police along with the family members of a person who died of COVID-19 sit inside a vandalised ambulance in Moradabad. (PTI)

Moradabad (UP), Apr 15 (IANS): A team of health workers and police was attacked in Moradabad on Wednesday when they went to pick up a coronavirus patient and his family.

The incident in which several police and health workers were injured took place in Nawabpura area of Moradabad. The ambulance and four other vehicles were also damaged in the stone pelting.

According to reports, a man named Sartaj had been unwell and was admitted to the medical college in the Tirthankar Mahavir University.

His samples were sent for testing on April 9 and the report that came on April 13 found him to be corona positive. Sartaj died the same night.

Some members of his family were quarantined at the IFTM University.

The health and police team, on Wednesday, went to their house to pick up Sartaj’s younger brother who had been suffering from fever.

As soon as the team reached the area, people started coming out of their houses and collecting at the spot. They tried to prevent the remaining family members from being taken

for quarantine.

The health team tried to explain to the crowds but the local people became aggressive and started pelting stones.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a strong view of the incident and has asked district officials to book the accused under the National Security Act. ADG (Law and order) P.V. Ramasastry said in Lucknow that the situation was under control and efforts were on to identify the miscreants. “We will take very strict action against those involved in this incident,” he said.

Probe role of Railways Ministry Railways to refund Rs 660 crore for ticket cancellation for migrant crisis, says Priyanka New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday asked the government to probe the “role” of the Railways Ministry for migrant crisis in the country, with party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help the stranded workers reach their villages.

The Congress also questioned the government on why railway bookings continued during the lockdown.

“After all, why does every disaster break on the poor and the workers? Why are decisions not taken while taking them into consideration. Why are they left on God. Why was booking of railway tickets allowed to continue during the lockdown,” Priyanka Gandhi asked.

She said the workers

Priyanka Gandhi were the backbone of the country and the government should help them reach their villages.

“For God’s sake, Narendra Modi ji please help them,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

“Why were special trains not arranged? Their money has finished and so have their stock of ration.

They are feeling insecure and want to go home in their villages. Arrangements should have been made for them. They can still be helped with proper planning,” the Congress general secretary said in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel said the “role” of the Railways Ministry must be probed for the crisis among the migrants.

“Why were train services abr uptly stopped leaving migrants stranded?

Why was railways accepting bookings despite no clarity on lockdown extension,” he asked.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed in some railway stations in Mumbai on Tuesday after a large number of migrants landed up there looking for trains to go homes. Police had to intervene to disperse them.

‘PM not giving assurances on key aspects of COVID-19 fight’ New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI): The need of the hour is “universal testing” for COVID-19 and providing personal protection equipment along with testing kits, senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not given assurances on key aspects of the fight against the pandemic.

His attack on the government came a day after Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday announced the extension of the three-week nationwide lockdown for

another 19 days till May 3 to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Moily said in the wake of the pandemic and the extended lockdown, the country needs to provide immediate relief to the hungry and those in need shelter and jobs. “The need of the hour is universal testing for COVID-19, providing PPEs, testing kits, mobilising professionals, biologists, scientists and researchers,” the former Union minister said in a statement.

“The prime minister has not given any assurances

for these basic necessities to tackle the pandemic -- be it providing shelter to people or on loss of jobs,” Moily said, asserting that India should tackle the crisis on a war footing.

“The prime minister, while speaking to the people of his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi via video conferencing, on March 25 said the Mahabharata war was won in 18 days but this war against coronavirus will take 21 days,” Moily said, adding that it seems the PM has failed the people of India.

Storm lashes Dimapur; power lines snapped

(From p-1) As per weather report, parts North East region were likely to experience heavy rainfall activity from April 15-19, 2020. The report stated that an orange alert has been placed over nine states within this time frame in view of these weather predictions.

Mobile tower posing threat to residents: As heavy storm hit Dimapur on Wednesday evening, the residents living nearby Jio mobile tower near Sumi Baptist Fellowship, Supply colony (Opposite Essar petrol pump, Landmark Colony) had to rush to neighbouring areas to take shelter because of fear tower collapsing.

Speaking to Nagaland Post, the K Y M C

caretaker of the house, who resides few metres away from the tower, said that during storm the tower starts swaying violently putting the lives of nearby residents at risk.

The caretaker also said that he had take up the grievances with the concerned authorities several times, but they turned a deaf ear to the pleas.

“One year ago, the authority had extended about half feet at the foundation for stronger support, but it was not enough to support the tower from standing firm during stormy season,” he added. He has appealed to the concerned authority to intervene and address the issue before any disaster occurred.

New Delhi, Apr 15 (PTI): Indian Railways will forgo around Rs 660 crore in revenue as it is refunding the amount towards cancellation of around 39 lakh ticket bookings for travel between April 15 to May 3, the extended phase of the nationwide lockdown to fight coronavirus pandemic.

The Railways had not stopped bookings for journeys beginning April 15.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extending the 21-day nationwide lockdown till May 3. The initial spell of the drastic measure was scheduled to end at midnight of April 14.

“The total amount that will be refunded is around Rs 660 crore. Around 39 lakh bookings were made between April 15 and May 3,” a top official of the national transporter told PTI. The Indian Railways

A freight train approaches the Anand Vihar Station in New Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI)

has said that all passengers will get a full refund for tickets booked for the period of the extended lockdown.

It added that the amount would be automatically refunded to online customers, while those who booked tickets at the designated reservation counters could claim the refund till July 31.

Following the prime

minister’s announcement, the Indian Railways extended the suspension of all its passenger services till the end of the lockdown.

According to official data, a staggering 20 million people travel daily on nearly 15,000 passenger trains across the country.

The Railways said no advance reservation of train tickets, including e-tickets,

NDPP urges NPF not to politicise pandemic

DIMAPUR, APR 15 (NPN): A day after the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) slammed the state government’s handling of CODIV-19 pandemic crisis in the state, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) Wednesday requested the opposition party to “kindly refrain” from politicising the COVID-19 pandemic by making “personalised attacks” on the chief minister during these trying times.

NDPP through its media & communication committee said that the fight against the pandemic needed the collective efforts of each and every individual and not just the efforts of the chief minister and the government of the day.

Admitting that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of the citizens, the ruling NDPP, however, maintained that the government also required the support of the people to fight such a crisis that the world was facing today.

Further, NDPP also welcomed the participation of all the MLAs of the opposition NPF who have positively joined the task forces in their respective districts. NDPP said opposition contributions and valuable experiences of MLAs would go a long way in strengthening the collective efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reiterating its earlier statement, NDPP said concerns, suggestions and constructive criticism was appreciated and welcomed since that helped in strengthening the efforts being put in to fight this global pandemic. “However, it is and will be most unfortunate and selfish if we take these difficult times to politicise and push forward our political agendas and interests,” NDPP asserted. It reminded that the “this invisible enemy” pertained not just to Nagaland or India, but threatened the whole of humankind. “Therefore, let humanity overcome our politics and differences,” NDPP underscored.

CS to personally monitor COVID teams

(From p-1) Toy commented wryly that of late many “experts” on PPEs had emerged though most of them had not seen PPEs personally as these were meant for pathologists. However, following the pandemic, he claimed the State government was following good practices of other States and trying to learn from their mistakes as well, stressing that this was a war and not the time to fight “among ourselves”. Emphasising that the war against COVID-19 had to be fought together, he appealed for cooperation and participation from all communities though there could be some lapses on the part of the government.

will be allowed till further orders, though the facility of online cancellation will remain functional.

However, people on social media said that the Railways has deducted the convenience fee per online booking while making the refunds.

“When train is cancelled, the passenger is refunded full fare. Conve-

nience fees is not refunded which are nominal to an individual and used for day-to-day maintenance and upgradation of the ticketing facility,” the railways explained in a statement.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) charges nominal convenience fee of Rs 15 per ticket for booking non AC travel and Rs 30 for air conditioned and first class tickets.

“A full refund will also be there for those cancelling advance bookings for trains not cancelled yet,” the national transporter said.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, on an average, around 8.5 lakh tickets were booked on the IRCTC website daily.

After the prime minister’s announcement of a 21-day lockdown across the country, the railways had announced suspension of all passenger services till April 14.

Former MLA Rev Suohie Mhasi ...

(From p-1) Being the oldest ex-legislator, deputy chief minister said his passing away was a great loss in terms of experience and wisdom for the state.

Patton, who is also state BJP legislature party leader, on behalf of the party legislators, paid tribute to the departed soul and prayed that his soul rest in peace. He also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

NPF: Naga People’s Front (NPF) president Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has expressed deep grief over the demise of Rev. Lhousuohie Mhasi, who hailed from Rusoma village.

In a condolence message, Liezietsu described late Rev. Mhasi as a politician, preacher and social commentator and said he lived the whole of his 98 fruitful years in the service of the Naga people.

A committed preacher and church worker, NPF president said late reverend served the Lord in various capacities before and after his brief political career. “But most of all, he was a Naga Patriot,” said Liezietsu.

In his demise, NPF president said the Nagas have lost a fountain of knowledge and experience that would be impossible to replace.

Liezietsu extended deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that the Almighty God grant them peace and solace during this time of pain and sorrow.

NSCN (I-M): National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has expressed shock over the sudden demise of Reverend Lhousuohie Mhasie, who it said was a man with respectable personality in religious field having deep political insight.

NSCN/GPRN through its MIP stated that Rev. Mhasie’s elderly advice, prayer and solidarity to the Naga cause, which were very dear to him, would be irreplaceable, adding that it deeply mourned his demise. It stated that his long suffering and commitment to the Naga cause would be well recorded in the pages of Naga political history.

MIP stated that late reverend’s analysis of “Indo-Naga” political talks spoke of his integrity and concern for the Naga political settlement that was honourable and acceptable.

NSCN (I-M) extended heartfelt condolences to bereaved family members in this moment of grief and prayed courage and strength be given to them to hold on the loss.

K Y M C

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXx NO. 129 Dimapur, THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Unprepared and unprotected

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hile people self-quarantine and socially isolate to avoid even a chance encounter with someone or something carrying Covid-19, health care professionals willingly expose themselves to the pandemic every day. This is a reality in many states and countries. This was highlighted by this newspaper including the slow pace of work for preparing the Dimapur Civil Hospital as the 100-bedded COVID-19 Hospital. Not only health staff but even others at the frontline such as policemen, essential service providers etc. The common complaint, not only in Nagaland or some other parts of India, is on the standard and quality of masks and Personal Protection Equipment(PPE). This fear is not unfounded as there have been many cases where health workers dealing with COVID-19 patients have contracted the disease and some have died. While some states including most countries provide desired standard masks and effective PPEs, some are not so concerned.After the state government launched a full-scale war against COVID-19 and formed various panels to oversee the operations; it was largely believed that the state of preparedness would be significant even if not cent percent. Thus, in order to ascertain the preparedness, a team of reporters had visited the district hospital Dimapur on April 6. What they found was that renovation works were still on and so unprepared to admit even a single COVID-19 patient. Doctors who spoke “under condition of anonymity” claimed they had to take materials on credit and make migrant labourers from Assam do the job. They said works were grinding to a halt since no money was received for renovation works and creditors have stopped supplying materials. In addition, it was also claimed that they were provided with low grade masks and incomplete PPEs.These are serious issues that needed urgent remedy through high level inquiry. Again on April 13, a team from this newspaper spoke to some of the doctors about the status of the works. The staff and doctor(s)disclosed that somehow renovation would be completed by April 14 noon and which was good news. However, they said funds were still needed and besides, they repeated their complaint about masks and PPEs. The staff and doctor(s) also said they had raised the issue of masks and PPEs with their MS who in turn assured he would take it up with the “higher authorities.”They said unless they were provided reqired graded masks and standard and complete PPEs they would refuse to do COVID duty. They also complained that the department till April 13, had not arranged any accommodation for COVID team members for the five-day duty period. The department had arranged rooms in two hotels after completion of the five-day period to undergo the 14-day quarantine before they return home. These were serious issues but unfortunately, the hospital staff, probably under instruction from higher authorities, issued a rebuttal but ignoring the main issue of preparedness. The only point mentioned was statistics on number of beds that were being prepared for COVID patients, generator etc. However, there was no mention about masks and PPEs, rest rooms with attached bathrooms and food including manpower. The complaints were made by the staff and not made up by this newspaper and the rejoinder was an attempt to sidetrack them. The story does not end and coincidentally, on April 14 a Guwahati-based news channel exposed the same but in Naga Hospital Kohima(NHAK). Certainly this shows that there is more to it than meets the eye.

DailyDevotion The Failure To Pay Close Attention

The high places were not removed from Israel.

Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days.

—2 Chronicles 15:17 Asa was not completely obedient in the outward, visible areas of his life. He was obedient in what he considered the most important areas, but he was not entirely right. Beware of ever thinking, “Oh, that thing in my life doesn’t matter much.” The fact that it doesn’t matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God. How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing?

But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience. You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt? Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God. Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless— you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating. As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual. God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time. Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes’ effort.

Quotes

Quality is not an act, it is a habit. ~ Aristotle

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Post-mortem

A Theological response to Covid-19

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ith a hope on our Government to prevent and control the Covid-19 fight effectively, I write this article from a theological as well as practical standpoint.

Let us break it up into four parts: 1. A Congratulatory Note to Frontline workers of Coronavirus: I, first of all, wish to thank in general the Government of Nagaland for adhering to the nationwide lockdown for two weeks at first and now extended to two more weeks of staying indoors. In particular, our heartfelt thanks go to all the frontline health care workers/doctors & nurses, police personnel, drivers and cleaners, churches, individuals, civil society organisations/colony volunteers, etc, in the state of Nagaland who are involved in Covid-19 prevention and control. We congratulate all of you for standing up for our safety. I would like us first to turn our attention to the biblical and theological standpoint as we encounter this deadly virus in our context today.

2. A Biblical & Theological Voice to the Covid19 Fight: I begin by asking a question: Is Coronavirus a divine intervention in human history? Our answers are not easy to come by.

However, we agree that the novel coronavirus – whether it is human-made or from the divine – is a clarion call

from God to the humanity.

From a biblical perspective, there is no greater cataclysmic happening than the covid-19 which has caused so much of human misery and deaths. It is only next to the biblical Flood that submerged the whole earth in Noah’s age (Genesis 6-9). Is God angry with humanity? Where have we gone wrong as the imagebearers of God? Perhaps, the Creator God is angry with human beings for their greed for economic power and the sins we committed in multiple ways and therefore we have “come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). People of the world are still weeping and groaning for deliverance! In human history, we are witnessing such a disastrous period like today only next to the horrors of Second World War II. Sadly, the most advanced countries are the most affected ones by this pestilence. It is not a respecter of the rich or poor nation or its people. It makes the entire humanity cry and mourn over the sufferings and deaths. Is there any end to such human tragedies? No, there is no surety and medicine that can cure this virus as of now. Then, where do we turn to for safety and deliverance? Is this the sign of the end times? Or, even the signs of the Second Coming of Jesus? To the faithful, the Bible has given us the answer. Let us take one example from the Bible. In

Mathew 24:6-8, one of the signs of the Lord’s return is that disasters will occur in the world. Coronavirus has come in the form of ‘pestilence’ in the entire surface of the earth. As we search for answers to this mystery of God, let us be ready all the time to face any eventuality. On a spiritual realm, let us be watchful “for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (Matt 24:44). As humans – you and I must consciously play our role in order that we get to see the light at the end of this tunnel.

We have a hope in our creator God that our prayers will be answered in His own times. Yet still, we must obey the rules of our earthly government which will make our life situation better. As a forward move, we the citizens have a right to demand for a change.

That is, a change not in the govt at the moment, but a change in the system of governance with the present Govt. Amidst other clamours for the needed change, the urgent call and citizens’ voice from all corners of Nagaland is to have better healthcare facilities, including the need for setting up of a Testing Laboratory for Virology in Nagaland.

3. An Urgent Need for a Regional Diagnostics Centre on Virology in Nagaland: As of now, we solely rely on Assam and Manipur (I cite just two neighbouring states) to do the vital

medical tests. Practically and scientifically, medical tests such as Covid-19 cases, viral and epidemic diseases cannot be done in Nagaland, because our state does not have a Testing Lab! A few practical problems must be identified for our discussion. First, in trying times like these when there is already one +ve case from Nagaland and many vitals tests to be done, going to Guwahati and Imphal is time-killing. Second, while the results are awaited there outside our state, how much mental and physical trauma will the patient/s have to endure here? A lot is the sure answer. Third, if the Assam and Manipur states are facing the same problem and have their own tests to be done, they will give priority to their cases, then to other states later. Fourth, it is scientific and technical. Are all the tests undertaken in those centres foolproof and scientifically compliant? We do not know. But, whether it is technically safe or not, the fate and lives of many patients from Nagaland are surreptitiously left at the mercy of those diagnostics labs outside the state.

Hence, the wishes of the people of the state for having better healthcare facilities must be the paramount importance of the present govt led by our honourable CM – Shri Neiphiu Rio and his cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary and others.

Our govt must listen to

these silent voices arising out of the dire situations as of now. Setting up of a Regional Diagnostics Centre for Virology in a convenient place in Nagaland on an urgent basis will help the people of our state scientifically and economically not only during the Covid-19 juncture but for the future well being of the state and her subjects as well.

4. An Advocacy for an Effective Govt!

In trying times like these, we look upto to our Govt as the earthly Messiah! But pat comes the question: Is our government and her machineries doing enough for her citizens? They do their part to a large extent. But somewhere, people are sceptical about following the current Lockdown rules. People are wondering as to why and how we got the first covid-19 positive case in Nagaland amidst the strict rules for which the local newspapers reported extensively on April 14 (2020).

This is unbecoming and even so scary. But we still trust our Govt to fix the loopholes under the quarantine rules. Hope they are being rectified and even strengthened. Obviously, it is possible on the part of our Govt machineries for careful handling of the quarantine rules. In short, let this incident be a warning to everyone, particularly the healthcare officials and other state officials dealing with the present

crisis. I, like everyone, support the policies of our government that deal with pragmatic ideas and steps.

The other issues related to the present catastrophe are on the receipt of central funds and its utilisation.

The public is happy to learn that Nagaland state has received from the Centre its first installment of Rs 20.50 crores under the State Disaster Response and Mitigation Fund (SDRMF) for the year 2020-21, as per the sources of the Govt of India as on April 5, 2020. So, our state should do well when it comes to relief package to tackle the current crisis. The government knows very well how to plan and spend it. But the central fund meant for the people of the state must be utilized judiciously. Through the central relief funds, bonus to the doctors and nurses, civil supplies to the poor and needy, daily wage earners, BPL families and deserving people of the state must be given. There will be peace tomorrow if there is justice today! Once again, we the citizens sincerely but strongly appeal to our Govt to strictly implement the Stay-At-Home rules hereafter! The Govt comes first in this fight, then the public next. This is the time for effective, confident, and smart Government!

Rev. Dr. S. Temjen Imchen Professor of Old Testament Serampore College, Serampore

News Media in state government watches over novel coronavirus these trying times (COVID-19) in our doorsteps and in our kitchens

“S

tay at home. Be safe” is a must obey advisory of the Government. Keeping people at home is a big battle plan to win the COVID-19 war. Had it not been for the News Media, we, who stay at home, would have been like the Blind Boy of Cibber asking “O say what is that thing called Light…”, when the Corona Virus would have already attacked us.

True to its name “Watchdog”, the news media has been busy alerting us of the dangers of the virus.

The critical role of the media, providing us with credible news, during this COVID-19 pandemic is nothing short of giving us a second life, by informing of the risks and educating us on Government’s safety measures. COVID-19 is unprecedented in its novelty, damages and spread. It has put the world in agony!

By linking the world in its fight against the common enemy, the media has built a strong bond of international solidarity. Each country is waging its own battle, to win the global war. The media has strengthened the global intent to win the war, while also exposing the gains and

the losses, the hurts and the wounds of the countries.

The TV channels, the print media, are only the visible faces of the real heroes and heroines, behind the scene, who are out in the field, taking risks to get the facts to give information for our safety and social choices. The reporters in the field are as vulnerable as any one of us to the dangers of the virus, (and at times from the very people it wants to serve!). Even George Washington called his administrative reporters “infamous scribers”.

What makes them so brave to go where “the angels dare not”? That question is not for them to answer but for us to appreciate.

This COVID-19 pandemic is an extra-ordinary time, with extraordinary risk factors. The time has produced heroic and passionate media reporters. We, who stay at home, are not only safe but also well informed because of their reporting. Thank you would even be an inadequate expression of the gratitude we owe them for their selfless service.

Joe Ngamkhuchung Burma Camp Dimapur

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hen COV-19 hit stop the chain.

Wuhan, the virus Unless we become seems too far away CENT PERCENT sure of to reach Nagaland like the all the past test as SECURE cases of Ebola and H1N1 flu. and AUTHENTIC, the panHowever, within 3 months demic MIGHT OUTNUMNagaland has received the BER our Naga population.

COV-19 package. *** All the essential Some leaders including commodities to the respecsome medical experts in our tive Hqs and destinations state had been treating Cov- should be handled and tackle 19 as a normal epidemic. by responsible persons(virus However, even in my lay- free) under the strict superman’s observation, I sense vision of medical experts, it too dangerous for human LEST IT INVADE US civilisation, as it has chain THROUGH ESsENTIAL reaction similar to nuclear COMMODITIES. *** chain reaction.

Systematic modalities When some health for distribution of essential workers including doctors commodities in all levels with all protective and pre- be formulated in order to cautionary measures are avoid panic and shortage in being infected and becoming our state. victims after contacting the Proper coordination patient directly or indirectly, among various departments And yet in Nagaland, people while discharging the duties who work hand in glove in confronting the pandemic with the confirmed positive is lacking and it has to be patient were picked and send adressed and redress. back after few queries. Isn’t it Charity distributions dangerous, risky and foolish by organisations should be attitude? allowed only after completthe space for virus to ing all the screening and spread in our state? Negli- test procedures of virus free gence in small area will reach of people concern, and not us in no time. otherwise.

The conspiracy of preFor the past weeks the meditated of virus curtail- state government had been ment at Wuhan by the Chi- announcing that they are nese government is still un- well prepared. If they are der scanner. And therefore, well prepared, why send their achievement cannot back people home who are be our risky apprehension suppose to be under strict in neglecting the crises in Quarantine surveillance? hile everyone was stop. Many has perished our state. As the cases and Because it will cost the state looking for a new and many more will do so. deaths are still on the rise in government dearly?

According to the daily year (2020),a new Nagaland on one hand, so all affected nations.

The Co-passengers, co- paper of 14th April 2020, the hope and a new beginning, remotely equipped with people had already started medical facilities will pay workers, doctors, etc. might disclosure by medical perlosing lives across. Today the a heavy price if it contin- not have any symptoms as sonnel about the unprepareddeath toll has risen and con- ues with this trend. Slowly of now, but what, if they too ness and the low grade equiptinuously does so with each and silently Corona has are infected though healthy ments and infrastructure at passing of time. This pan- entered our state and is in and the virus keep spreading cov-19 Dimapur hospital is demic is going out of man’s our midst today as we speak. among the populace without shocking. The State Governcontrol and the most advanced Leaders, elders, intellectuals noticing? They should be ment should not gamble with countries in the globe are fac- from all walks of life should kept under the government’s the lives of medical personels ing the worse consequences participate and work for a Quarantine facility and test and citizens. more sensible approach and of samples should be conLong before, The mediwithout a cure. cal department should have There is also a fear now work on creatingCOVID-19 ducted at intervals.

All the previous Quar- been vocal , atleast in the methat not how many lives it hospitals and procure urgent will cost but how much of medical requirements. What antine members especially dia about the lapses, shorthumanity will be spared. has gone is gone, God will those who showed similar coming and negligence on Powerful and topmost lead- judge that but what is the symptoms yet showed nega- the Government’s part, and ers across the globe are all need of the hour, should be tive results should re-invisti- they slept over it. They too confused. Lockdowns and immediately dealt with be- gate within the parameter of are equally responsible along restrictions alone wont bring cause the clock has already Government provided Quar- with state government for the a cure, which for a while started ticking and will soon antine facilities. Study their irresponsibility in the subject might slow down the spread explode. It’s now or never. social history after reaching matter.

Nagaland till date and follow Relevant reliable equipfor a while. Until a vaccine God save us all.

Lily Pongen up of remedial procedures to ments should be provided is found, the death toll wont Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this

Appeal for sensible approach

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to medical staffs at any cost and at the earliest, including various department personels who are on the front line.

Is the arrival of giant cargo plane at Dimapur at intervals just a showoff ?

Setting up lab might take time, however, it’s nearly a month that the state government has announced it’s preparedness and yet a single testing kit could not be procured?

Is Nagaland trying to set up a cov-19 testing lab bigger than Mizoram Lab? Is restriction of social gathering and lock down meant for selected citizens only? The concern officer who permitted such gathering on 12 th of April at Dimapur along with the organisers should be booked as an exemplary.

GOI has announced crores of rupees (Though I could not remember the exact amount) for cov-19 for Nagaland state .

Though it might be NEGLIGIBLE, the organi-

sations and citizens too had contributed for the noble cause.

If the concern leaders(Nagaland) neglected the health security of it’s citizens, and the fall out cost the lives and economic ditch of patients, the government of the day shall be held accountable to the victims and citizens. The money meant for cov-19 to their(leaders) personel accounts and assets will become a curse for their descendents, should it ever happen. Nor should, the state government even think of making profit out of it.

It begins in Wuhan, within four months it has its presence in all most every nation, and the world super power (USA) is having the toughest time with it. Nagas cannot afford to play with it. “we rather don’t play with it “ May Almighty God protect us!

Akavi Sumi

Reader’s Post

We condemn attack on freedom of Press

Sir,

In these difficult times when people associated with essential services like Media, Health workers and police is doing everything to save the people, certain vested interests are trying to bring harm to them. The Media, doctors ,police & all such front line soldiers despite all the risks, has been tirelessly working hard to keep the people informed & are combating Covid 19 pandemic .

The responsibility to disseminate news in an atmosphere where rumour mongering and fake news is trying to whip emotions is more challenging. There have been attacks on media personnel by those hit hard by the truth which should be condemned by all.

The acts of intimidation by certain elements against the reputed news service, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) is highly condemnable. Its subscribers and journalists are being threatened for its reportage on the issue of Tablighi Jamaat spreading the coronavirus infection. As the threats were persisting, IANS has been forced to file three criminal intimidation cases against Individuals who claim to be the members of Tablighi Jamaat. The attempts to muzzle IANS or other media organizations are not only criminal but an attack on the freedom of Press. Such acts should not only be condemned but also held accountable for their anti-democratic activities. we Urge GOI stern action should be taken against such miscreants .

Chairman Reconciliation, Return & Rehabilitation of Migrants newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

COVID-19 patient’s wife tests positive in Assam

Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati, Apr 15 (PTI): The wife of a COVID19 patient tested positive for the disease in Assam on Wednesday, taking the tally in the state to 32, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The 32 cases include one who had died due to coronavirus.

“A woman from Dhubri has tested #COVID positive. She is wife of a #COVID19 positive person who is connected both with #NizamuddinMarkaz, and Athgaon Kabristan congregation in Guwahati,” Sarma tweeted.

Three COVID-19 pa-

Assam withdraws liquor sale order

Guwahati, Apr 15 (PTI): Two days after allowing manufacture and sale of liquor in the state, the Assam government on Wednesday withdrew the order following guidelines issued by the Centre on the extended lockdown due to coronavirus.

In the consolidated guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, no relaxation has been given to liquor manufacturing or retail sales, which was allowed in Assam from Monday by the state Excise Department.

The department issued an order this evening asking all deputy commissioners to close liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries indefinitely in the state.

It had on April 12 allowed liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries across Assam to open from Monday for seven hours daily.

tients had attended a congregation in Athgaon Kabristan Masjid here on March 12, following which the state government sealed the area and declared it a containment zone.

The latest COVID-19 patient is the fourth from Dhubri district and the sixth woman from the state to contract the disease, all linked with the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi.

Four of the six women from Golaghat district had accompanied their family members to the Nizamuddin event while two others from Dhubri and Morigaon district are wives of COVID-

19 patients who were part of the congregation.

Thirty-one of the 32 COVID-19 patients in Assam are linked with the Tablighi Jamaat event.

A total of 33 COVID19 patients are being treated in the state, including a person from Nagaland who has been admitted to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Sarma said.

Of the 3,209 samples tested in Assam, 1,421 were linked to the Nizamuddin event, of which 31 have tested positive and results for 32 are awaited, the minister said.

All the persons who had attended the Delhi event have either been quarantined or isolated, he said.

Sarma said the condition of all the COVID-19 patients, barring a cancer patient who had tested positive in Silchar, is stable and they would be gradually released after Wednesday if their condition does not deteriorate.

The highest number of cases was reported in Golaghat district at nine, followed by four each in Goalpara, Nalbari and Morigaon and Dhubri, two in Cachar, one each in Hailakandi, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Kamrup, Lakhimpur and South Salmara districts.

Ration distributed to North East students by Aryans Dimapur, Apr 15: Free Ration was distributed among students from Northeast staying in PG by Aryans Group of Colleges, Punjab who opened its door for free food and stay for Northeastern students.

A press release by the media coordinators Aryans Group of Colleges, Rajpura, near Chandigarh donated Rs. 1 Lac to Chief Minister Covid Relief fund. The fund was handed over to Deputy Commissioner Patiala Kumar Amit by Dr. Anshu kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group.

Kataria said that there is no doubt that unaided colleges of Punjab are under heavy financial crunch but Corona virus is very big problem for the entire humanity and colleges will support the Government.

Kataria also said that on the initiative of DC

Patiala, A meeting would soon be conducted of all colleges of Patiala district with hostels. The hostels will be earmarked as isolation centers. Under DC Patiala contingency plan, these hostels will be used to quarantine the doubtful corona cases whenever required.

It is to be mentioned that the faculty members of Aryans Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, Management, Agriculture, Polytechnic and Education College have decided to donate one day salary to the CM Covid relief fund.

Kumar Amit thanked the Aryans Group of Colleges for their financial support to the CM Covid relief fund amnd further said that the entire District administration is doing its best and it will leave no stone unturned to fight the pandemic.

Northeast to witness heavy showers: IMD

GUWAHATI, APR 15 (AGENCIES): Northeast India is all set to experience heavy spells of rain between April 15-19, as widespread showers have been forecast over the region, according to The Weather Channel.

I n v i ew o f t h e s e weather predictions, an orange alert has been placed over few states within this time frame.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the convergence of strong moist winds from the Bay of Bengal will bring fairly to widespread rainfall, along with the possibility of isolated heavy showers, over northeast India as well as the eastern states of West Bengal, Sikkim and east Bihar.

This rainfall activity over the region will occur between Wednesday and Sunday, April 15-19. Moreover, the rains will also be accompanied by thunder squalls and hailstorms.

With these conditions in mind, the IMD has placed an orange alert

and deliver it at their homes in our vehicles. Any elderly person facing difficulty and needing to go anywhere for emergency purposes will be taken by the police during the lockdown”, Mahanta said.

Stating that police will strictly enforce Prime Minister’s directions for firmly maintaining the lockdown curbs, he said, “I request the public not to move out in their private vehicles during this period”.

The police will permit only those essential services vehicles which have valid authorisation documents like identity cards, authorisation letter/ slip, passes by Assam State Disaster Management Au-

thority, he said.

“We have noticed that people with fake documents roam around in their private vehicles for personal work. Police will now be strict in not allowing vehicles movement without valid authorisation documents”, he added.

Police will take stringent steps against establishments and services exempted from the lockdown restrictions if they fail to observe social distancing, the DGP added.

He said they have written to the Transport department to start a limited taxi service for convenience of public to move out in case of emergency without using their own vehicles.

Inmates lament poor quarantine in Dimapur

Crops & vegetables rot in Karbi Anglong due to COVID-19 lockdown

Aid distributed in KA

Correspondent

Correspondent

Diphu Apr 15: The 36 migrant laborers of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao who have been quarantined in Dimapur, Nagaland, have sought help of District Administration of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao for their safe return.

The labourers who were on their way back from Kohima, were taken into custody by the administration of Dimapur, Nagaland and quarantined at Dimapur District Sports Complex where their medical test was carried out on April 1.

Inmates of the quarantine centre of Dimapur have alleged that they were provided with poor food and lack of basic facilities in quarantine centre located inside Dimapur District Sports Complex adding that it has become cause of concern for their family members.

Diphu Apr 15: Amid g r ow i n g i n t e n s i t y o f COVID issues related to managing harvested crops and vegetable have cropped up in Karbi Anglong, particularly due to the absence of cold storage or proper disposal system.

According to information received, vegetable cultivators in Karbi Anglong are facing hardship due to extension of nationwide lockdown. Prices of vegetables have rocketed and vegetables locally produced are rotting due to the transport bottleneck resulting in unsold vegetables thrown away.

In Diphu, headquarter town of Karbi Anglong Autonomous districts, the prices of vegetables have increased by 50 to 100%; potatoes sold in retail at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg earlier

K Y M C

Members of NFRWWO distributing masks.

Changsari, Kamakhya, Guwahati, New Guwahati, Silchar, New Tinsukia and Dibrugarh station areas while observing social distancing and hygiene .

Indian Railways have provided more than 1564150

free meals till Tuesday.

NFR also stated that it produced more than 2500 ltrs of Hand Sanitizer and nearly 66000 Reusable Face Masks for use by its on-duty staff till yesterday. Masks were made by staff working

Assam police to reach out to distressed senior citizens during lockdown: DGP

over Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura and Assam on Thursday, April 16. This alert urges the residents to “be prepared” for rough weather.

Indian Meteorological Department has issued a thunderstorm warning over the coming days in Meghalaya. The state is to brace itself for heavy rain with gusty winds of speeds ranging from 40-50 kmph, starting from April 14 to Saturday April 18.

Similarly, Arunachal Pradesh is likely to witness isolated heavy rains, thunderstorms, and gusty winds up to 40-50 kmph on these two dates; whereas Assam will experience isolated heavy rains, thunder squall, and wind blowing at the speed of 50-60 kmph.

Heavy rains, thunderstorms, lightning, squall, and hailstorms are also expected over Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura for consecutive days.

As for the easter n states, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lighting and squall is likely over Sikkim on Wednesday and Thursday, while West Bengal may witness heavy rain (up to 7-11 cm), thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail at some places on April 16 and 18. Wet conditions will persist over these states throughout the latter half of the week.

NFRWWO and other NGOs provide free meals and masks

Maligaon, Apr 15: N. F. Railway Women’s Welfare Organization (NFRWWO) produced and distributed 5700 masks and provided meals to 500 needy persons. Various other NGOs such as Khalsa Center - North East, and NECPL Raising Hands etc are also provided free meals to needy people and contract labourers in goods yards with the help of RPF/Railway employees while observing social distancing.

A press release by Chief Public Relations Officer ( CPRO) stated that as of Tuesday, IRCTC provided 15524 free meals and other agencies provided about 48519 free meals to needy people in NFR area, which were distributed by RPF. IRCTC in NFR provided 1000 meals to needy people which were distributed by RPF in Katihar & Lumding division, while various other organizations / NGOs also provided meals to more than 2541 persons at places like New Jalpaiguri, Siliguri, Samsi, Manihari, Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, New Bongaigaon, Azara,

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NORTHEAST

from their respective home due to lockdown and hand sanitizer were produced in various depot.

Masks were made by staff from Agartala, Alipurduar, Lumding, Silchar, Katihar, Tinsukia, Rangiya

etc. Till April 14, Indian Railways has in-house produced total 10,59,869 reusable face masks and 1,13,030 litres of hand sanitizers in all its Zonal Railways and Production Units.

NFR informed operation and maintenance staffs of NFR are working round the clock, since freight and parcel train operations of Indian Railways are running 24 X 7 to maintain supplies of essentials items and other goods throughout the nation. To ensure safety of these staff and boost their morale, following measures are followed at workplaces: 1.masks and hand sanitizers are being made available to all staff coming on duty. These are also being ensured for contract labourers. 2. Soap, water and washing facilities are being provided at all work places.

With local innovations hands free washing facilities have been provided at all vulnerable locations. 3.

Social distancing is being ensured. Awareness in this regard is being regularly spread amongst all staff like trackmen, gatemen, locomotive pilots etc, the release added.

Guwahati, Apr 15 (PTI): Acting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Saptapadi” (seven steps) advisory, the Assam police on Wednesday promised to provide assistance to senior citizens in procuring medicines and delivering it at their doorsteps in police vehicles, besides taking them out of homes in case of emergency.

Police personnel in every district have been told to reach out to the elderly population in distress during lockdown necessitated by coronavirus, state’s Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said.

A helpline number will be given to the public for assisting aged citizens facing problems while staying indoor during the shutdownn, he told reporters here.

Taking care of elders formed an important component of the PM’s “Saptapadi” in his televised address to the nation on Tuesday for which he sought support of the people. The PM in his address had announced extending nationwide lockdown till May 3 to check spread of the virus infection.

“Police in every district, particularly in Guwahati, will procure the senior citizens’ medicines

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta (File)

Correspondent

Diphu Apr 15: In the continuing relief process extended by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Executive Member Lunsing Teron distributed essential provisions at Men Taro village, Borsing Teron village and Kethe Rongpi village.

He was assisted by around 17 government employees to arrange the food grains and vegetables; 8 kg rice, pulse, edible oil, potato, soap and others essentials to 100 families of three villages yesterday.

Adding owes to the locked up villagers on Sunday afternoon, the house of one Phukon Rongpi was burnt down around 11.30 am at Alu Khunda Bon Kathar village in the cross border of Karbi Anglong and Golaghat district.

Household belongings , cash amounting to ten thousand rupees, clothes, utensils were gutted in the fire. The aged couple is now left with nothing except the clothes they wore that night.

has shot up to Rs 30per kg.

Similarly, cabbage sold at Rs 40 per kg was sold at Rs 30 before the lockdown.

Chili earlier sold at Rs 80 per kg was is sold at Rs 120 to Rs 200 per kg. Tomatoes, most common vegetable which had no buyers even at Rs 3 a kg was sold at Rs 40 per kg in Diphu. The end result is that the farmers of the two hill districts are suffering and many are in alarmed about repaying their bank loans.

Nimai Sinha, a tomato cultivator of Natun Basti, Bakalia one of the best agricultural zone of the district lamented after damage of his harvested crop. “My tomatoes have got damaged as the markets have not opened. I have taken KCC loan to cultivate vegetables but in this situation how will I pay repay my loan.”

Satyaranjan Sinha,

another cultivator of same village said he had lost lakhs of rupees. Among the effected are Paresh Das, Hejuram Das, Noni Das, Sankar Das, Harekrishna Singh and hundreds of others facing a tough time. Till now, Agriculture Department functioning under Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has not come up with any support plan for the cultivators.

In Bokajan sub-division, during the first ten days of the lockdown, vegetables rotted in the stall as the markets suddenly closed.

Retailers and growers sufferers the most. Market has stabilized now but prices of organic vegetables have gone up by 50% to 80%. In Baithalangso, West Karbi Anglong, most vegetable growers are selling directly to consumers at a cheaper price.

MGU takes up online teaching

Assam CM directs police to take care of migrant workers

S HILLON G, APR 1 5 (AGENCIES): Keeping in mind the nationwide closure of educational institutions, Mahatma Gandhi University ( MGU), Meghalaya has been making efforts to provide students online classes by using its own developed Learning Management System(LMS) & by using Zoom too.

A press release by MGU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohan Bhattacharyya stated that even UNESCO is providing all kinds of support to countries in their earnest effort to mitigate the negative consequences of closure of educational institutions facilitating the continuity of education for all through e-learning system.

The release stated that following the advice of University Grants Commission and MHRD,Govt. of India, the teachers are eager to provide education taking help from top diverse ELearning Online education websites being popularin India. Moreover, regular online classes being conducted

by MGU teachers with the help of different digital equipments.

Guwahati, Apr 15 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday directed the police to take good care of migrant workers and labourers stranded in the state.

Assam government has promised all states that their workers would be safe here and the police must ensure the fulfilment of this commitment, Sonowal said during a review meeting with Superintendents of Police of 10 Upper Assam districts at Dibrugarh.

He also urged the police to facilitate vendors supplying essential commodities and also to keep a check on hoarding.

“There should not be any interruption in the supply of rice and other essential items under PDS so that poor section of the society do not face any difficulty”, the chief minister said.

Sonowal also called for ensuring un-interrupted supply of essential items passing through Assam to the neighbouring states.

Police has a major role in facilitating all other departments in performing their duties effectively while

ensuring that strict lockdown is maintained by the people, he said.

The chief minister also urged the people to avoid incidents like the alleged harassment and manhandling of Power department staff by police at Dergaon in Golaghat district recently as this brings shame to the department and overshadows their good works.

He appreciated the police for reaching out to many people in distress and directed them to swiftly act on any requirement of medicine, food, particularly of the elderly citizens, pregnant women and children, during the lockdown period.

The chief minister also instructed the SPs to monitor tea garden lines and help the tea community people in consultation with line sardars.

He also directed the police to allow free movement to the small tea growers.

He instructed the police to issue immediate warnings to those who post hateful or inciting messages on social media as peace and harmony must be maintained during these difficult times.

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international/sports

Donald Trump halts funding to WHO

Washington, Apr 15 (IANS): US President Donald Trump announced that his administration is halting the nation’s funding to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Addressing the daily briefing at White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to access the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”

“The WHO failed in its basic duty and it must be held accountable,” he added, the BBC reported.

Trump also accused the WHO of putting political correctness above saving lives and taking China’s claims about the outbreak at face value.

Trump has accused the WHO of being biased towards China in recent weeks, and recently attacked the organisation for being too “China-centric” in its tackling of the coro-

crease in cases worldwide and it may be much more than that.”

“So much death has been caused by their mistakes,” he said.

The US president previously praised China’s role in containing the virus in this tweet, sent a few days after the two countries signed a trade deal.

Now is ‘not a time to cut’ funding, says UN chief

Donald Trump

navirus pandemic.

US financial contributions to the WHO accounted for just under 15 per cent of its funding in 2019.

The US decided against using a coronavirus test approved by the WHO in January, in favour of a test being developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - but some of them did not work properly, and led to inconclusive results.

Te d r o s A d h a n o m Ghebreyesus, the first African head of the WHO, has been accused of being

too cozy with China in the past.

“Many countries said they were going to listen to the WHO and they have problems now the likes of which they cannot believe,” Trump said.

“The world received all sorts of false information about misinformation and mortality,” he added.

If the WHO had gone to China to oversee the outbreak, mores lives would have been saved, he claims, adding that “their reliance on China’s disclosures... likely caused a 20-fold in-

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that now was “not the time” to cut off funds to the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the United States’ decision to suspend funding to the agency.

“Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic, there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis,” Guterres said in a statement.

“But now is not that time,” he added. “It also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.”

“It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19,” the UN chief said.

Guterres’ remarks came after US President Donald Trump decided earlier in the day to suspend his government’s funding to the WHO. The US, until now, had been the biggest donor to the agency, Efe news reported.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020

Search for a COVID-19 vaccine heats up in China, US Washington, Apr 15 (AP): Three potential COVID-19 vaccines are making fast progress in early-stage testing in volunteers in China and the U.S., but it’s still a long road to prove if they’ll really work.

China’s CanSino Biologics has begun the second phase of testing its vaccine candidate, said China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

In the U.S., a shot made by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc. isn’t far behind. The first person to receive that experimental vaccine last month returned to a Seattle clinic Tuesday for a second dose.

NIH infectious disease chief Dr. Anthony Fauci said there are “no red flags” so far and he hoped the next, larger phase of testing could begin around June.

A third candidate, from Inovio Pharmaceuticals, began giving experimental shots for first-step safety testing last week in the U.S. and hopes to expand its studies

to China. Initial tests focus on safety, and researchers in both countries are trying out different doses of different types of shots.

But moving into the second phase is a critical step that allows vaccines to be tested in many more people to look for signs that they protect against infection.

Last week, CanSino filed a report showing it aimed to enroll 500 people in this next study, comparing two doses of the vaccine to dummy shots. As of Monday, 273 of the volunteers had been injected, state media said.

Looking ahead, Fauci said if the new coronavirus continues to circulate widely enough over the summer and fall, it might be possible to finish larger studies slightly sooner than the 12 to 18 months he’d originally predicted — maybe toward “mid to late winter of next season.” “Please let me say this caveat: That is assuming that it’s effective. See, that’s the big ‘if,’” Fauci stressed.

“It’s got to be effective and it’s got to be safe.”

During a news conference in China, authorities also cautioned that the studies must be done properly.

Japan urges citizens to isolate as South Korea holds parliamentary polls amid pandemic reports warn of 400,000 deaths

TOKYO, Apr 15 (Agencies): Japan urged its citizens on Wednesday to stay home, as media reports warned that as many as 400,000 of them could die of the coronavirus without urgent action, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came under pressure to hand out more cash.

Japan, which tests only people with symptoms of the coronavirus, has so far recorded more than 8,000 infections with nearly 200 deaths. Reports in Japanese media citing an undisclosed health ministry projection said fatalities could reach the 400,000 mark without mitigation measures. It also estimated that as many as 850,000 people could need ventilators.

Japan has seen an accelerating infection rate in recent weeks, particularly in Tokyo. The government has

responded by declaring an emergency in Tokyo and six other areas including Osaka, and a goal to cut interactions between people by 70 percent.

The measures include a request that people isolate and businesses close, although there are no fines or penalties to force compliance. The government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, urged people to do everything in their power to help the government reach its target.

Japan’s capital reported more than 125 new cases on Wednesday, according to public broadcaster NHK. A lawmaker, Takashi Takai, was forced to resign from the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on Wednesday, after media reported he had visited a bar in Tokyo’s

Kabukicho red light district despite the call to stay at home.

As Suga was calling for cooperation, his boss Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was coming under pressure to add a 100,000 yen ($935) payment to every citizen on top of a $1 trillion economic stimulus package that includes a 300,000 yen payment to households whose income has fallen because of the pandemic.

“I’ve urged the prime minister to make a decision and send a strong message of solidarity to the public,” Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the Komeito party, the junior partner in the ruling coalition, told reporters after meeting Abe. Other allies calling for action include Toshihiro Nikai a leading member of Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Seoul, Apr 15 (IANS): South Korean voters went to the polls for parliamentary election on Wednesday amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Election Commission said.

The election to vote for 300 members of the National Assembly, which began from 6 a.m. (local time), would last for 12 hours at 14,330 polling stations across the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

Pre parations were made to protect voters from possible infection while casting ballots, by disinfecting voting stations and marking the standing line at intervals of at least one metre.

Voters were allowed to enter the voting booths only after wearing masks, checking body temperature, rubbing their hands with sanitizer and putting on disposable plastic gloves.

The election was held

A South Korean Confucian scholar wearing a face mask casts his vote for the parliamentary elections at a polling station in Nonsan, South Korea on Wednesday. (AP/PTI)

at a time of the COVID-19 outbreak across the world that delayed elections in other countries such as Britain, France and the United States.

South Korea has seen a slowing daily caseload of the virus in recent weeks.

If the nationwide election is successfully held without any big cluster infection,

the country may relieve its rules on social-distancing.

The government has encouraged people to refrain from social gatherings and religious services as cluster infections account for more than 80 percent of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases.

In the latest tally, the country reported 27 more

paid player on £290,000 ($362k) per week, is unlikely to accept a back-up role.

Barcelona would interest Kante as well but only if he was told that Chelsea want to sell him ahead of the summer, with reports in Spain claiming the Blaugrana would be willing to offer Philippe Coutinho in exchange as part of a swap deal.

Kante is settled in London and he has three years left on his Blues contract but he previously harboured ambitions of playing for one of Spain’s big two clubs at one stage in his career.

Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, along with Serie A giants Juventus, were interested in Kante when he signed for Chelsea from Leicester for £32 million ($40m/€36m) in 2016.

Melbourne, Apr 15 (IANS): With uncertainty looming over the T20 World Cup due to the coronavirus pandemic, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has come up with a few suggestions which he thinks can be used to hold the tournament as per schedule.

The T20 World Cup is slated to be held in OctoberNovember. However, with a six-month travel ban in place in the country, many believe the tournament cannot be held in such circumstances. However, Hogg feels otherwise.

In a video posted, he said the tournament should not be cancelled as millions of cricket lovers all across the globe want to get some entertainment and watch their favourite players, even though if it has to be in front of empty stands.

cases of the COVID-19 for the past 24 hours, raising the total figure to 10,591.

The daily caseload hovered below 50 for the seventh straight day.

Of the 43.99 million voting-age South Koreans, 26.69 per cent voted in advance on Friday and Saturday. It was the highest since the early voting system was introduced in 2013.

According to the Gallup Korea survey commissioned by the National Election Commission, 79.0 per cent replied that they would go to the polls “without fail.”

It was 12.4 percentage points higher than four years ago for the parliamentary election. Those who said they would vote “if possible” was 15.1 per cent.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating has risen in recent weeks amid the positive public views over his gov-

ernment’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the Realmeter poll, support for Moon advanced to 54.4 per cent in the second week of this month. It was far higher than 46.9 per cent tallied in the first week of February.

During the electioneering, Moon’s ruling Democratic Party focused on the government’s successful response to the virus, adopting the campaign slogan of “We protect the people.”

The mood of this year’s election campaign, usually energetic and noisy, was relatively dull and quiet as campaigners were advised to wear masks and avoid handshakes.

To secure the suffrage of those under the mandatory two-week self-quarantine, the election organizing body allowed them to leave home out of quarantine to go to the polls for a set period of time.

Use charter planes to bring N’Golo Kante prefers to stay at Chelsea players for T20 WC, suggests Hogg of Chelsea’s 42 games this season due to a host of injuries to his hamstring, knee and ankle, and concerns over his long-term fitness have seen Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho strike up a good partnership in his absence.

M e a n w h i l e, B i l ly Gilmour’s emergence and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s return from injury add to Frank Lampard’s options with Ross Barkley and Mason Mount also in the squad.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has long been an admirer of Kante and is said to be looking for a back-up option for Casemiro, with Rennes’ 17-year-old wonderkid Eduardo Camavinga and N’Golo Kante Soumare also on the BlanL o n d o n, A p r 1 5 at Chelsea despite reports Barcelona and Real Ma- cos’ shortlist.

But Kante, who is cur(Agencies): N’Golo in the Spanish media link- drid.

Kante remains keen to stay ing him with a transfer to Kante has missed 20 rently Chelsea’s highest-

Brad Hogg

He also said rescheduling the tournament to a later date would not be appropriate as another T20 World Cup is slated to be played next year in India and that’s why organising two such tournaments within a span of six-eight months will not make much sense. “We have to play the T20 World Cup as it is planned. A lot of players internationally have been in lockdown and they have not been able to go out and train. We have to get them in Australia prob-

ably a month and a half earlier,” Hogg said.

“There are no commercial flights, so we need to use charter flights. Each participant who will board the charter flights needs to be tested for coronavirus, if they pass the test, they come to Australia.”

“When they arrive in Australia, they will be quarantined for two weeks and then they will be tested again. Once they pass it, they can train and play the tournament,” he added.

Asian tournaments to go ahead this year Won’t agree to Asia Cup cancellation to accommodate IPL: PCB chief

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 15 (Agencies): Asia’s top football competitions will go ahead this year despite the coronavirus pandemic, a senior official said, although games may have to be played behind closed doors.

Windsor John, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), said he was confident that the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup would both be completed. Both tournaments, featuring teams from throughout Asia, Central

Asia and the Middle East, are on hold until at least the end of June after COVID19 shuttered professional sport worldwide. “Both will be played this year. We still have time,” John told AFP, adding that new dates for the competitions may be known by the end of April.

However, John did not rule out matches being played without fans “if that’s what the health authorities need”.

The AFC is determined for both tournaments to go

ahead “for sporting reasons and to fulfil commercial obligations”, he said.

His comments came after the AFC on Tuesday announced the indefinite postponement of all matches scheduled for May and June due to the virus.

The Champions League, the region’s premier club competition, and the second-tier AFC Cup were both halted in March as the pandemic’s spread forced governments to impose travel restrictions.

K a r ac h i , A p r 1 5 (PTI): Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani has asserted that the PCB will not agree to cancelling the Asia Cup, scheduled in the UAE in September, to make room for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The IPL was to be held from March 29 to May 24 but has been postponed indefinitely because of

a extended lockdown to combat the deadly virus in India.

“I have read and heard about these speculations but right now just remember that having or not having the Asia Cup is not a decision between Pakistan and India it involves other countries as well,” asserted Mani here on Tuesday.

Pakistan were to host Ehsan Mani the event but it was shifted tance to come here owing to Dubai and Abu Dhabi after India expressed reluc- to security concerns and

the strained diplomatic ties between the two countries. “...it is important to have the Asia Cup if cricket activities resume by then because development of Asian cricket depends on funding from the tournament. It is important for many countries who are members of the Asian Cricket Council,” he added in a podcast released by the PCB. However, he also conceded that holding the Asia

Cup this year is a big challenge because right now “we don’t know if it can be held or not.”

“But if the conditions change and we can have the Asia Cup, it must be held as earnings from it are distributed as development funds to member countries for next two years,” he said.

He said reports about the Asia Cup being hosted

by Bangladesh or UAE were mere speculation at this stage.

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