April 21, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 134

DIMAPUR, tuesDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 Pages 6 (Online Edition)

Centre objects to Kerala easing lockdown restrictions

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national, Page 3

Revised guidelines on lockdown

DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): Nagaland government has informed all departments that the nationwide lockdown measures will remain in force up to May 3,2020 to contain COVID-19 but with certain revised guidelines issued in public interest by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which came into effect from April 20, 2020.

On Monday, the state cabinet was briefed about the Consolidated Revised Guidelines of the lockdown for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the State and the revised guidelines were issued for its implementation throughout the State with immediate effect.

According to DIPR, the additional activities will be operationalized based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines of lockdown measures. The consolidated guidelines will not apply in ‘containment zones’ as demarcated by the health and family welfare department/ district administration.

Before operating the relaxation, the government has notified all departments, district administrations, work places, CSO and faith-based organisations to ensure preparatory arrange-

KU dismayed by state govt’s attitude DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): Konyak Union (KU) Monday expressed strong resentment against the state government’s “lackadaisical attitude” in addressing issues concerning the prevailing crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic.

KU through its media cell said it had written to the chief minister seeking timely intervention to tackle the situation in order to prevent major catastrophe considering the immediate boundary with Assam.

However, KU said that Konyak frontal organizations were dismayed over the findings observed during the consultation and inspection undertaken with different government agencies.

Highlighting some key issues, the KU said that the medical consignments that arrived at District Hospital Mon especially personal protective equipment (PPE) was of sub-standard quality, which the practitioners and workers were reluctant to use.

KU pointed out that as per the Nagaland Public Health Infrastructure statistics, Mon district has four ventilators, 2020 N-95 mask as projected. However, it said that there was only one ventilator and that no N-95 mask was received till date.

(Cont’d on p-3)

This is it!

"Forget about your boredom being stuck at home. What about me, stuck and no shopping?"

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HIGHLIGHTS

International and Inter-State borders to remain sealed Educational, training and coaching institutions to remain closed Plying of buses and taxis restricted Malls, shopping complexes, sports complexes, auditoriums, assembly halls, social and religious cong regations restricted  Outlets dealing with foodg rains, food items, vegetables, daily use items, other essential commodities to remain open for limited time

ments for social distancing in offices, workplaces, factories and establishments as also other sectoral requirements in place. In case of any new area included under the containment zone, the guidelines will be suspended except for activities specifically permitted under the guidelines of the ministry of health and family welfare, government of India. As per the consolidated revised guidelines that came into effect from April 20,2020 certain activities shall remain ‘Prohibited’ across Nagaland till May 3,2020.

As per the revised guidelines, the international border of the State with Myanmar, and the interstate borders of the State with Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will continue to remain sealed. The inter district movement of individuals will continue to remain barred except vehicles carrying goods and commodities but not commercial passenger vehicles. Drivers/ attendants of vehicles carrying goods and commodities transiting the state will be allowed only after mandatory medical screening All educational, training and coaching institutions will remain closed.

The plying of buses and taxis are barred. Cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, sports complexes, auditoriums and assembly halls shall remain closed.

All social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions remains prohibited.

Outlets dealing with foodgrains, food items ,vegetables, daily use items, other essential commodities will be allowed to open for extended hours as notified by respective DCs but other outlets dealing in other

goods shall remain closed.

Home deliveries from dinein restaurants, food outlets and delivery online orders of essential commodities shall be permitted while salons, dine-in restaurants, eateries, departmental stores and malls will remain closed.

All public places, shopping malls, complexes, eating joints, places of worship, sports, educational institutions or congregation of religious gathering etc will remain close. All public modes of transport such as buses, taxis, cabs, autorickshaws, cycle rickshaws shall also not be permitted .

General public shall continue maintaining strict social distancing and wearing of face masks, even homemade is mandatory. Hawker stalls in crowded areas with no scope for enforcing social distancing such as -Hongkong market, New Market area in Dimapur town; BOC market in Kohima etc shall remain closed except those dealing with food grains, vegetables, food items, medicines or other essential items and goods.

status REPORT AS ON APRIL 20, 2020 North East Confirmed Recovered Nagaland Nil Nil Assam 35 17 Manipur 2 2 Meghalaya 11 Nil Mizoram 1 Nil Arunachal Pradesh 1 Nil Tripura 2 1

Death Nil 1 Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil

LIST OF EQUIPMENTS AVAILABLE IN STATE 56,000 Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) 2,76,000 triple layer mask 42,000 N95 masks 11 ICU ventilators 9 transport ventilators 50 CPAP machines 1007 B type Oxygen Cylinders 119 A-Type Nitrous Cylinders 54 Jumbo Oxygen Cylinders (Nagaland govt. spokesperson and minister Neiba Kronu)

India records biggest single-day surge as total cases cross 17k

Action against people obstructing frontline workers

DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): Expressing serious concern over continued barring of entry/exit of people working in the frontline/providing essential services by several colonies/villages despite repeated appeals made by the district administration, the deputy commissioner Dimapur, Anoop Kinchi, has warned that strict action would be initiated and cases would be registered against those obstructing movement of the frontline workers.

According to a DIPR report, the Dimapur District Task Force members at a meeting held in the conference hall of DC Dimapur on April 20 encouraged frontline workers to report such instances. At the meeting, DC Dimapur reminded that social organisations have very important role during such situations and appealed to the NGOs, GBs/village (Cont’d on p-3) councils

Kma residents continue to flout advisories Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 20 (NPN): With Kohima district authorities announcing extension of relaxation hours from 7 a.m. till 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, residents at the State Capital were seen rushing out of their home to markets flouting advisories on maintaining social distance since morning on Monday.

Police personnel on duty were seen weary of the situation as the residents did not obey or follow the guidelines.

Town areas like Razhu point and BOC were seen jampacked during the window period.

Interacting with Nagaland Post, a policeman on duty said they were tired of trying to make the citizens understand the importance of maintaining social distance, adding that no matter what they did, people always found fault with them only.

In BOC area, the scene was

nagalandpostofficial

NEW DELHI, APR 20 (AGENCIES): India has seen the biggest single-day spike in the number of coronavirus cases- 1,540 cases in the last 24 hours- which takes the total to 17,656, including 559 deaths, the Health Ministry data shows.

Forty deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

So far, India has 14,255 active cases. There are also 77 foreign nationals who are affected by the virus.

During the press briefing on Monday evening, Lav Aggrawal from Health Ministry said that since the lockdown has got implemented, the doubling rate for the virus infection has seen a significant improvement. “The duration of doubling rate for coronavirus which was 3.4 days before lockdown is now 7.5 days,” he said.

Globally, the toll from the coronavirus pandemic crossed 1.66 lakh and more than 24.17 lakh declared cases have been found in 185 countries and territories since the disease first emerged in China late (For details log on to last year, according to the www.nagalandpost. Johns Hopkins University com-- E-paper in PDF) tracker.

Nagaland COVID-19 : 404 test negative, results of 30 awaited DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): State government spokesperson and minister for Planning & Co-ordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu Monday informed that 434 COVID suspected samples were sent for testing as on April 20, 3 p.m., out of which 404 have reported negative.

Kronu said that the results of 30 samples were awaited. He also informed that 1058 persons have been screened as on April 20 and 121 persons under facility quarantine.

In order to create a greater synergy among all the departments and for enabling prompt response, Kronu informed that a State Level War Room against COVID-19 has been made functional in the Nagaland Civil Secretariat headed by the chief secretary.

nagalandpostofficial

like any other normal day of the week. Much has been reported in this regard, but the situation continued to remain the same.

Meanwhile, continuing its efforts to reach out to the needy people, Kohima district administration distributed rice, dal and salt at local ground here on Monday. The administration has been issuing free ration since March 31 and it has been informed that it would continue doing so till the lockdown ended on May 3.

On reports asking students to come to Khuochiezie local ground for collecting the ration that went viral, one administrative officer told this Correspondent that the district administration did not issue such a circular knowing well that it was not possible to reach out to students residing in far-flung places.

He said for such cases, the district administration reached them at home to ensure that they stayed home safe.

Angami Students’ Union

(ASU) volunteers assisted the students who had gathered at the local ground for collecting relief.

On the other hand, Kohima deputy commissioner Gregory Thejawelie issued a guideline on Monday stating that street vending would not be allowed to encourage social distancing and minimizing gathering of public in the market.

It added that only wholesale shops selling perishable goods would be allowed to open at BOC, Super Market and High Scho0ol Junction on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. along with all other exempted categories, but clarified that no retail sale be allowed.

The guideline also informed the respective colonies to collect perishable goods from the mentioned locations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7 am and 2 pm for retailing in their respective colonies.

17 killed in Canada shooting international, Page 6

Rio announces special package for people stranded outside Nagaland DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has announced cash assistance to the distressed and stranded citizens outside Nagaland because of the nationwide lockdown.

The cash assistance will be Rs 20,000 for a patient, Rs 4,000 for a professional or working person and Rs 3,000 for a student.

For this purpose a separate portal iamstranded. nagaland.gov.in has been opened where any citizen of the State presently outside and facing distress due to the nationwide lockdown may apply for assistance directly.

As a welfare measure for frontline workers, besides the health workers, the state government has also decided to pay Rs 10 lakh as ex-gratia to any State government employee, including Nagaland Police personnel and workers of urban local bodies, who might suffer fatality due to COVID-19 while performing duties, this was mentioned in a statement issued by state government spokesperson and minister

CHIEF MINISTER

ANNOUNCES SPECIAL PACKAGE For distressed/stranded citizens outside Nagaland.

STRANDED STUDENTS: `3,000 STRANDED WORKING PERSONS/PROFESSIONALS: `4,000 PATIENTS OUTSIDE NAGALAND: `20,000 DAILY WAGE EARNERS IN NAGALAND WILL BE PROVIDED ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES PACKAGE THROUGH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AVAIL ASSISTANCE AT HTTPS//IAMSTRANDED.NAGALAND.GOV.IN

for Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue & Parliamentary Affairs Neiba Kronu.

Claiming that the State government had been taking measures for alleviating distress faced by daily wagers by providing food and dry rations since the beginning of the lockdown, Kronu said the government has decided to further reach out to the daily wagers, considering the hardships that they were going through in view of the extension of the lockdown.

He said the chief minister had announced relief packets consisting of rice, dal and other essential items for the daily wagers

in the State through district administration.

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet, during its meeting held on Monday, reviewed the status of preparedness of the Health & Family Welfare department to combat COVID-19 on Monday.

Kronu stated that the district-wise reports of the existing health infrastructure was also reviewed, following which the cabinet gave directions for further strengthening of the medical infrastructure, wherever required.

Further, Kronu sought the support and cooperation of every citizen to unitedly fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Nagaland.

TR Zeliang asks govt not to give step-motherly treatment to dists DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): Senior NPF leader and leader of opposition (LoO) TR Zeliang has urged the State government not to give step-motherly treatments to certain districts but rather take up the fight against COVID-19 with no ism and political colour.

Participating in a review meeting with Peren district officials, including deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, chief medical officer, food & civil supplies (F&CS) officials, representatives from civil society organisations and NGOs at Peren town after visiting the designated COVID-19 Hospital at Jalukie and the district hospital at Peren on Monday, Zeliang announced that opposition would continue to render unceasing support to the State government. He however urged the government to take into consideration the positive

AHoDs, HoDs to report to work DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): The state government has directed all the Administrative Heads of Departments (AHoDs), Heads of Departments (HoDs) and also all the heads of offices of the departments in the districts to be in their respective headquarters from April 21, 2020.

The AHoDs, HoDs, head of office, currently not in the district, have been asked to contact the respective Deputy Commissioner and obtain necessary passes/clearances to proceed towards his/her headquarters.

Functioning of government offices will be as per the home department office memorandum of April 13, while all offices and departments providing essential services shall continue to function as per previous arrangements.

suggestions offered in this regard.

“No political party is immune to the virus and, as such, a concerted effort is the need of the hour. Only then can there be progress in breaking the chain of this dreaded virus,” he stressed.

The former chief minister regretted that the designated COVID-19 Hospital at Jalukie was not “wellprepared” to treat positive cases. From zero ventilators to non-existent ICU to poor quality PPE kits, he said the reality was nothing close to the claims made by the government.

Likening doctors and nurses with generals leading the battle, he remarked that there could be no hope of winning the battle if they were poorly equipped. There should not be any distinction between districts as no district was corona proof, he stressed. The LoO expressed

his anguish at the PPE kits being made available to the doctors and nurses at the hospital under the label “HIV kit”. He wanted to know whether this was the same kit made available to other hospitals in the State and whether this was the standard PPE kits to be used to treat COVID-19 symptomatic patients or whether the doctors and nurses would risk it as there weren’t any made available.

Zeliang also interacted with apex tribal bodies and NGOs that are tirelessly assisting and helping the government agencies in keeping vigil in these challenging times. Given that daily wage earners and weaker section of the society were most affected, Zeliang took the opportunity to sensitise about various Central government schemes under National Food Security Act. (Cont’d on p-3)

Wokha incident: Doctors serve 1 week ultimatum on state govt

DIMAPUR, APR 20 (NPN): Indian Dental Association Nagaland State Branch (IDANSB), Indian Medical Association (IMA) Nagaland State Branch and Nagaland AYUSH Doctors Association (NADA) have served a one-week ultimatum on the state government to take immediate punitive action against the erring police personnel involved in the assault of Dr. Mongshithung Murry at Wokha town on April 17.

In a joint representation dated April 18, to chief secretary, Home commissioner and DGP, IDANSB president Dr. Kaketo Yepthomi, IDANSB honorary secretary Dr. Vichovol Temi, IMA Nagaland state honorary secretary Dr. Victo A. Wotsa and NADA general secretary Dr. Shasinlo Magh warned that failure to take action within one week’s time would compel the entire medical fraternity to resort to cease work..

The signatories stated that the medical fraternity has had enough of the “highhandedness” of the police personnel on duty. The signatories

have, therefore, appealed to the responsible authorities to take immediate punitive action against those erring police personnel involved to establish trust within the professionals working together to combat the pandemic COVID-19. They maintained that failure to “show firmness at this stage” could encourage further misconduct in future.

LDF: Lotha Doctors Forum (LDF) Monday said it has resolved to fully support and endorse the representation given by IDANB, IMA Nagaland Branch and NADA to the state government.

In a press release, LDF president Dr. W.Nchumbemo Ezung and general secretary Dr.Jonsuthung Kithan said they have also decided to wear black badge for one week to show their resentment and as a sign of protest. LDF while condemning the “barbaric assault” on one of its members Dr. Mongshithung Murry by police personnel, also demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

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state

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

Nagaland COVID-19 preparedness: Appeals, orders, preventive measures

DIMAPUR: As the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic lockdown continues across Nagaland, the state government and its agencies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been issuing directives, appeals and taking preventive measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus. District administrations of the eleven districts along with police are keeping vigil to enforce lockdown while at the same time ensuring that public gain access to essential commodities. Several initiatives have been taken up to create awareness on COVID-19 pandemic.

Kohima District

Legislators inspect markets at Kohima Town. (DIPR)

Relief camp inmates avail medical check-up

A person from the relief camp avail medical check-up. (DIPR)

Inspection of markets at Kohima town; shoppers asked to maintain social distancing

With a view to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection in Kohima district, a committee on social distancing and lockdown enforcement was constituted headed by district administrator with members from government departments and civil societies.

According to DIPR report, the committee on April 19 began its task in monitoring the precautionary measures to be followed during the window period (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.) within Kohima town.

The report informed

that elected members under Kohima district led by the legislators in-charge for Kohima district, Minister Housing & Mechanical, Tongpang Ozukum; advisor Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire; advisor Veterinary & Animal Husbandery, R. Khing; advisor Youth Resource & Sports, Er. Zale Neikha; MLA Neikezhakuo Nakhro and MLA, Khriehu Liezietsu inspected the main shopping areas located at BOC, Razhü point and High School junction.

The elected members observed that with the involvement and assistance of the civil societies, the implementation of social distancing at most of the shopping points have been tackled successful with the cooperation of the general public.

Minister Tongpang opined that plans need to be formulated for the main shopping area at BOC in order to ensure that proper social distancing was maintained as many wholesalers and vegetable vendors are located in the area.

Besides the district administration, KMC and Police, the committee members included AYO, ASU, KVYO, KCCI and AKMW for assisting in social distancing at various shopping areas and also to assist the stranded students.

The legislators also urged the shoppers to maintain social distancing and also thanked the volunteers from various civil societies for their services and efforts in helping out the district administration and police towards the safety of the public.

Phek District

SPO asks contractors to take precautionary measures

Frontline workers demonstrating hand washing to the elderly people at New Akhegwo Meluri block.

Health workers create community awareness

Health workers of Phek district have been creating community awareness on COVID19 pandemic.

The frontline workers which include Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) have been reaching out to a large group of people and creating community awareness on COVID-19 by conducting house-to-house visit.

A press release by district media officer NHM, Phek informed that the ASHAs have

nagalandpost.com Poll Q.: Should the govt do more to COVID-19 in Nagaland?

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been disseminating the importance of social distancing, hand-washing, personal hygiene/cough etiquette through demonstration.

Mobile Medical Unit team (MMU) and School Health Program (SHP) team have also been carrying out house visits of all colonies of Phek Town for screening of people who were under home quarantine.

The activity was also carried out even at the block level, stated the release.

In view of the resumption of the ongoing 2-lane Pfütsero – Phek road amidst the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, Secheku Public Organization (SPO) has asked contractors of NHIDCL to take all precautionary measures before resuming the construction work.

In a press release, SPO president, Vekhosa Ruho pointed out that the virus has remained “foreign” to the area unless the same was “imported” from hotspots zones.

Since the villages have been isolated and no individual was permitted to go out or enter the villages, SPO said it was confident that the people of the area would in “no way import the deadly coronavirus”.

In the event of resumption of construction work, SPO said there would be vehicular movements transporting road construction materials from “COVID-19 hotspots i.e.

Dimapur and Assam without sanitizing the vehicles or screening the occupants while entering our area”.

Therefore, SPO has advised the concerned contractor/agency to take all precautionary measures. Failing to heed the advice and if any eventualities pertaining to COVID 19 arise within its jurisdiction, SPO said the contractor/agency shall be held responsible.

NELB extends validity of permit

DIMAPUR: Office of the chief electrical inspector has informed that in view of the restrictions due COVID-19 pandemic, the validity of electrical wireman permit, supervisor certificate and contractor licenses issued by the Nagaland Electrical Licensing Board (NELB), which expired on March 31, 2020, has been extended till June 30, 2020.

NDRF conducts sensitisation drive at Secretariat Kohima

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Next poll

Q: Should social media be

under legal scanner ?

 Yes.  No.  Can’t Say.

April 21

Max Min

Agartala A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

34 23

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

29 18

Aizawl

Guwahati A strong thunderstorm

29 20

A heavy t-storm in the p.m.

32 17

Itanagar Cloudy with a thunderstorm

24 18

Imphal

Shillong A strong t-storm; not as warm 22 15

A strong thunderstorm

24 15

Dimapur A strong thunderstorm

30 19

Kohima Mkg

Cloudy with a strong t-storm

Tuensang A thunderstorm in spots Wokha

Cloudy with a strong t-storm

Zunheboto Hazy sunshine

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26 16 19 13 23 18 23 14

Kohima district administration and district disaster management authority (DDMA) on April 19 conducted a basic health checkup for migrant labourers and others stationed at the Relief camp, Kohima Local ground.

According to DIPR report, Dr. Rüyangulie Paphino from Chief Medical Office (CMO) Kohima conducted the basic medical check-up for the inmates at the relief camp.

The report stated that inmates had come from different places within Kohima district and kept under one accommodation. Altogether 15 persons were checked for possible health ailments relating to coronavirus, fever, cold and tuberculosis.

Directives on perishable goods

With a view to encourage social distancing and minimise gathering of public in the market, Deputy Commissioner, Kohima has issued following directives and guidelines to be implemented with immediate effect till further orders.

According to DIPR report, the directive is as follows: no street vending will be allowed: only the whole sale shops selling perishable goods will be allowed to open (no retail sale allowed) at the following locations - BOC, Super Market, High School, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays between 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. along with all other exempted categories; respective colonies to collect the perishable goods from the above location on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays between 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the above location for retailing in their respective colonies.

Red Cross and National Youth volunteers being trained.

Red Cross & NY volunteers trained on COVID-19

Training for the Red Cross and National Youth volunteers on COVID-19 was held Monday at the Conference Hall of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mokokchung.

A press release by district programme management unit, NRHM, Mokokchung, stated that the training was organised as per the directive of Governor and ex- officio president Indian Red Cross Society, Nagaland State Branch, R.N. Ravi and as per per the guidelines given by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) headquarters New Delhi and directives from the deputy commissioner Mokokchung.

The release stated that resource persons, Dr Aonungdok (epidemiologist) and Dr Tsipongchem (pathologist) trained the volunteers on the origin,

Dimapur District

NDRF personnel disinfecting Secretariat Kohima.

Dimapur: In an effort to prevent spread of COVID19, 12th Bn National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Doimukh Monday carried out sensitisation drive at the Secretariat of Kohima.

A press release by the team stated that the drive was carried out un-

der the directive of Sh. Arun Deogam (commandant), NDRF Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh.

The release stated that the team sprayed the disinfectant (a mixture of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and water) on various offices including the chief minister office.

transmission, prevention, control measures, medical care, supportive environment, safe practices like frequent hand washing, social distancing, use of mask, avoiding public places etc.

The volunteers were also highlighted about the incubation period which may last up to 14 days before symptoms emerge while some patients may spread COVID-19 during the incubation period.

A short video clip on seven steps of hand washing and bio medical waste management was shown and demonstration on hand washing, use of mask and gloves and disposal was also demonstrated.

Another session of training among the NSS volunteer from Fazl Ali College Mokokchung was also held.

MoN District

Farmers, others involved in agri & allied activities exempted

Dimapur district administration has informed that farmers and other persons involved in agriculture and allied activities have been exempted from the lockdown.

According to DIPR report, the Dimapur district administration has stated that movement of persons involved in agriculture and allied activities should not be obstructed or hindered. It said instances of violation are liable to be penalized under Section 188 of the IPC. The report informed that Activities/items exempted from the purview of lockdown measures included: all agriculture and horticulture activities including farming operation by farmers, agencies engaged in procurement of agriculture products including MSP operations, mandis operated by the APMC or as notified by state government, shops of agriculture machinery, its spare parts and repairs to remain open, manufacturing, distribution of fertilizer, pesticides and seeds, custom hiring centres(CHC) related to farm machinery and movement (inter and intra state) of harvesting and sowing related machines.

DC along with Seva Bharati team after extending relief. (DIPR)

Relief to ‘needy people’

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mon, Thavaseelan K has informed that relief to “needy people” was extended by Seva Bharati, Mon District in collaboration with district administration, Mon on April 15-16.

According to DIPR report, 210 “needy people” including widows, daily wage earners, stranded students and senior citizens living within Mon Town were given food packages. It said the identification of beneficiaries and distribution of relief was done under the charge of in-charge, Seva Bharati, Mon, Lucy Y. Elang.

tuensang District

Seminar on Covid-19 for frontline workers

A seminar on COVID-19 was organised for the frontline workers by 45 Assam Rifles at DBs Court Shamator wherein topics like social distancing, regularly hand washing, proper hygiene, staying at home for stay safe, not to go out without valid and important reasons, how to handle quarantine peoples, and how to be a responsible front line worker were highlighted. The seminar was held with 45 Assam Rifles, asst. Commandant, Dr. Subash Chauhan as a resource person and T. Hantsula Yimchunger, area ASHA coordinator as a translator.

Efforts made to ensure support: CCNH New Delhi DIMAPUR: Control Center Nagaland House (CCNH) New Delhi, which has been set up to support and assist Nagas in Delhi, has reassured the parents and families in Nagaland that efforts have been taken to ensure that Naga people in Delhi NCR are provided “timely support and assistance as and when needed.”

In a press release, Nagaland House, New Delhi, PRO, Kuolie Mere, informed that the Chief Minister Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio through the CMRF has already sanctioned Rs. 4,00,000, in two phases, to Nagaland House New Delhi. The release stated that the money was

being “optimally utilized to ensure that our people do not go hungry”.

After the Janta Curfew on March 22, PRO said on receiving report of 10 stranded passengers from Nagaland, a control center was setup after a meeting on March 23.

PRO said government of Nagaland through the office of the Resident Commissioner, New Delhi has been extending assistance to students/working persons and patients including stranded passengers from Nagaland. Till date, the CCNH has rescued 13 stranded passengers and provided them food and

shelter at Nagaland House.

The release informed that CCNH has been directly extending assistance in the form of dry rations to people from the state.

Assistance is also extended through NGOs, after being crossed checked by respective tribal units, said PRO. It said there has been tremendous support from Naga elders, Pastors and student unions, Delhi Police and NGOs in Delhi.

CCNH has appreciated the partnership of various Naga Student bodies, Delhi Police (SPUNER), tribal bodies, Naga elders and unit churches/fellowships in Delhi in the collective effort

to reach out to “brothers and sisters in need” in Delhi NCR. PRO informed that doctors and nurses from Nagaland, working at various hospitals in Delhi NCR, have been extending timely support to Nagas, even beyond their call of duty.

Meanwhile, PRO has issued the emergency contact details of CCNH, New Delhi as: 011-23013751 (land-line); KethosituoSekhose, Dy. RC, 9436001625 (Whatsapp); Kuolie Mere, PRO (9910291960); Dr. H e n t o k P h o m , S r. M O (8826787100); Kedichatuo Kense, ALO (8130698329); te-mail –rcnagalandhouse@ gmail.com

Community assistance during lockdown

WEATHER FORECAST (Temperature in ºC)

Mokokchung District

DIMAPUR: Many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political parties and individuals have come forward and offered assistance to those in need during the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

CHS: Chümoukedima Hindu Society distributed essential items as a relief package to 21 needy families at Master Colony, Naharbari, Dimapur.

DVC: Diphupar village council on April 20 provided lunch to the policemen on duty from Chumukedima stretch to Deputy Commis-

sioner (DC) Dimapur office junction. (DIPR) BCTE: Don Bosco College of Teacher Education (BCTE), Dimapur in collaboration with AIDA (Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur & Assam Integrated Development Association) donated masks and ration to migrant workers employed in building construction in the Salesian College campus, Dimapur.

FAYO: Foothill Ao Youth Organization (FAYO) Dimapur distributed relief to around 400 families under its jurisdiction - Naga United – Niuland, Kuhuboto-

Seithekema.

NAU: Naharbari Ao Union, Dimapur on Monday distributed relief packages to 40 families affected by the COVID 19-related lockdown.

BJYM: BJYM Nagaland distributed essential commodities to the Phom community of Signal Bosti Dimapur on Monday.

YAS: Youth Alive Society on Monday distributed juice to frontline workers including police personnel, health workers and volunteers in and around Dimapur.

Fire averted in Dmu DIMAPUR: On receiving “fire call” on April 18 at 8:25 p.m., Dimapur, Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) mobilised a quick response team from Fire Station Dimapur (Central) and pressed into action to contain the fire at Induslnd Bank Nyamo Lotha Road.

A press release by F&ES stated that timely intervention of fire personnel managed to put fire under control and prevented from further spreading.

The release informed that the fire was caused due to short circuit at main control board. However, there was no casualty.

AIR Kohima resumes broadcast

DIMAPUR: All India Radio (AIR) Kohima Monday resumed the broadcast of local dialect programmes. The broadcast is being made in 14 local dialects keeping the public informed and updated on COVID-19 news and other important matters.

According to DIPR report, in the battle to keep the people informed on the various steps, directions and advisories of the government, experts and other agencies on COVID-19 on a daily basis through the mass media, the public, especially in the rural areas depend on the radio broadcasts since the newspapers in the state has discontinued their print editions due to distribution hurdles.

It said the internet editions of these papers are not available to majority of the public especially those in the rural areas and radio has become even more relevant as a most reliable source of information to the rural masses of the State.

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national/State

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

Centre objects to Kerala easing lockdown restrictions Asymptomatic coronavirus patients will New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI): The Centre has come down heavily on the Kerala government for its decision to allow opening of restaurants, bus travel in cities and opening of MSME industries in urban areas, saying it amounts to dilution of lockdown guidelines and also a Supreme Court observation.

However, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government in Kerala said there was some “misunderstanding”, due to which the Centre had objected to dilution of the lockdown protocol for controlling coronavirus. In a letter to the Kerala government, the home ministry said the state government on April 17 circulated revised guidelines for lockdown measures which allowed opening of activities which are prohibited in the Centre’s consolidated revised guidelines issued on April 15. Such additional activities allowed by the government of Kerala, include opening of local workshops, barber shops, restaurants, book stores, MSMEs in municipal limits, bus travel in cities and towns for shorter distance (upto 60 km), two passengers in the back seat of four wheeler and pillion

Police barricades streets of Kerala during lockdown.

riding on scooters. In his letter sent on Sunday to Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also drew his attention to the consolidated revised guidelines issued for the implementation of the lockdown.

The guidelines categorically stated that the State and UT governments shall not dilute them in any manner and shall strictly enforce the same.

The States and UTs may, however, impose stricter measures than the guidelines as per requirement of local areas.

Bhalla also pointed out to the recent Supreme Court observation that all concerned -- state governments, public authorities and citizens of this country

-- will faithfully comply with the directives and orders issued by the Union in letter and spirit in the interest of public safety.

T h e o b s e r va t i o n s, which must be treated as directions of the Apex Court, was conveyed in my letter dated April 1 to all States and UTs, he said.

“I would urge you to rectify the guidelines of government of Kerala in line with the consolidated revised guidelines dated April 15 and 16 without any dilution and to ensure strict compliance of lockdown measures,” the Union home secretary said Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran denied there was dilution of the lockdown guidelines.

“We have given relax-

ations in accordance with the Centre’s guidelines. I think there is some misunderstanding, based on which the Centre has sought an explanation. Once we give an explanation, it will all be sorted out. The Centre and the state have the same stand with regard to fight the pandemic. There is no contradiction in the stand taken.

It’s just a misunderstanding we will clear it,” Surendran told media persons in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala government has announced relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in two zones, allowing among others private vehicles movement in an odd-even basis and dine-in services at hotels from Monday.

Kerala govt denies dilution of lockdown guidelines

The Kerala government on Monday said there was some “misunderstanding”, due to which the Centre had objected to dilution of thelockdown protocol after the state had allowed opening of restaurants and MSME industries in municipal areas among others.

The Union Home Ministry has taken strong objection to Kerala govern-

ment’s decision to allow opening of restaurants, bus travel in cities and opening of MSME industries in municipal areas, saying it amounts to dilution of its lockdown guidelines.

In a letter to the Kerala government, the Home Ministry said the state government on April 17 has circulated revised guidelines for lockdown measures which allowed opening of activities which are prohibited in the Centre’s consolidated revised guidelines issued on April 15.

State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran denied there was dilution of the lockdown guidelines.

“We have given relaxations in accordancewith the Centre’s guidelines. I think there is some misunderstanding,based on which the Centre has sought an explanation.

Once we give an explanation, it will all be sorted out. The Centre and the state have the same stand with regard to fight the pandemic. There is no contradiction in the stand taken.

It’s just a misunderstanding we will clear it,” Surendran told mediapersons.

be kept in COVID care centres: Satyendar

New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI): Asymptomatic patients who have tested positive for coronavirus in the national capital will be kept in COVID care centres, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Monday.

The number of coronavirus cases in the national capital till Sunday stood at 2,003, including 45 deaths.

Many cases in Delhi are coming up where people are not showing symptoms but have tested positive for infection.

“We have three levels of facilities -- COVID care centre, dedicated COVID health centre and dedicated COVID hospital. Accordingly, we will admit them in different facilities. If a patient is asymptomatic, then they will be admitted in a COVID care centre,” Jain told reporters.

He also said that after the trail run, coronavirus tests using rapid antibody test kits have begun in some of the containment zones across the city as per the central government protocols.

Till Sunday, the num-

Satyendar Jain ber of containment zones in Delhi stood at 78.

Recently, 31 members of an extended family, including children, living in an area, marked as a containment zone in Jahangirpuri here, had tested positive for COVID-19.

However, all of them were found asymptomatic.

The Centre had recently classified COVIDrelated health facilities into three categories -COVID care centre, dedicated COVID health centre and dedicated COVID hospital.

COVID care centres are only for cases that have been clinically assigned as mild or very mild or as

suspect cases.

These centres can be makeshift facilities and can be set up in hostels, hotels, schools, stadiums, lodges, among other places, both public and private.

If the need be, existing quarantine facilities can also be converted into COVID care centres, according to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined by the Union government recently.

Functional hospitals like community health centres (CHCs), which can handle regular nonCOVID cases should be designated as COVID care centres as a last resort.

This is important as essential non-COVID medical services for pregnant women and newborns are to be maintained, it said.

Every COVID care centre must also have a dedicated basic life support ambulance (BLSA) equipped with sufficient oxygen support roundthe-clock for ensuring safe transport of a case to dedicated higher facilities if the symptoms progress from mild to moderate or severe, the SOPs said.

COVID-19 situation serious in Mumbai, Action against people KU dismayed by state govt’s attitude Kolkata, Jaipur and Indore: MHA obstructing frontline workers New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI): The Centre on Monday said the COVID-19 situation is “especially serious” in Mumbai, Pune, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata and a few other places in West Bengal, and violation of lockdown measures risk the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In a communication to state governments and union territories, the home ministry said there have been several incidents of violence against COVID19 frontline healthcare professionals, complete violation of social distancing norms and movement of vehicles in urban areas.

These should be stopped, it said.

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 543 and the number of cases climbed to 17,265 in the country on Monday, according to the Union health ministry.

The situation is “especially serious” in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, Jaipur in Rajasthan, and Kolkata, Howrah, East Medinipur, North 24 Parganas, Darjeeling,

(From p-1)

A father seen carrying a child during lockdown.

Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, the ministry said.

“Violation of lockdown measures reported, posing a serious health hazard to public and risk for spread of COVID-19,” it said.

The central government has constituted six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to make on-spot assessment of the COVID-19 situation in these places and issue necessary directions to the four states -- Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal -- for redressal.

The teams will submit their report to the central

government in the larger interest of the general public, the ministry said.

“The IMCTs will focus on compliance and implementation of the lockdown measures as per guidelines, supply of essential commodities, social distancing, preparedness of health infrastructure, safety of health professionals and conditions of relief camps for labourers and poor people,” a home ministry spokesperson said.

The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic. It was further extended till May 3.

to sensitise and educate the people in their respective colonies/villages. “Instead of people guarding the village/colonies in groups it is always better to stay at home and maintain social distance and be safe,” DC advised.

The chief medical officer (CMO) Dimapur and medical superintendent (MS) Dimapur also expressed concern over the barring of medical workers by the villages/colonies.

Since Dimapur district Hospital has been converted into COVID-19 hospital, they said that patients with other health problems have to depend on the private hospitals. However, they said that private hospitals were also finding it hard to function as their workers were facing movement problems. If such actions continue, CMO Dimapur said private hospitals would be bound to close down causing inconvenience to patients.

COVID 19 being a new disease, the members felt that people needed to be sensitised more in order to remove apprehensions about

Nagaland AH&Vety forms COVID-19 ‘task force’ DIMAPUR: In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, State Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&Vety) has formed a “task force” for preparation of action plan based on the prevailing situation.

According to DIPR report, the department has framed advisory for the veterinary hospitals/ dispensaries/ health centres/ laboratories/ livestock/ poultry farms/ office establishments/ dairy processing plants and public.

Advisory for consumers 1. Clients visiting Veterinary health care facility are requested to wear mask with clean clothing.

It is advised not to enter inside of work facility.

Maintain social distancing.

Only one attendant will be allowed to carry out OPD formality.

2. Anyone visiting, live animal markets, wet market, or animal product market should practise general hygiene measure, including regular handwashing with soap and water after touching animal K Y M C

and animal product, avoiding touching eye, nose, or mouth with hand, and avoiding contact with sick animal or spoiled animal product.

3. Any contact with animal possibly living in the market (eg: - cat and dog, rodent, birds, bat) should be avoided.

4. Attention should be taken to avoid contact with potentially contaminated waste or fluid on the soil or structure of shop and market facilities.

5. The consumption of raw or undercook of animal product should be avoided. Raw meat, milk, or animal organ should be handled with care to avoid cross contamination with uncooked food as per good food practise. Door to door raw milk delivery by milkman is a potential threat for transmission of contamination.

6. Slaughter house worker, market and those handling live animals and animal product should practise good hygienic practise, including frequent hand washing, wearing protective glove, head cover

& apron while handling animal and fresh animal product. Protective clothing should be removed after work and washed.

Daily workers should avoid exposing family member to soiled work clothing, shoes or related item.

7. Equipment including knife/Dao and working places should be disinfected frequently, before and after operation.

8. As a general recommendation sick animal should never be slaughter for consumption; death animal should be safely

buried or destroyed and contact with the body fluid should be avoided.

9. Any person engaged in delivery of fresh food of animal origin is advised to wear protective apron, head cover, mask, &gloves besides dressing properly with clean clothing.

Further, the department has issued districtwise names of officers with contact number assigned to coordinate for making availability of feed to farmers facing accessibility problem.

SL. District

Name

Contact Number

1.

Kohima

Dr. Akangnungla 9436010432

2.

Dimapur

Dr. Imomanen

3.

Mokokchung Dr. B.M. Sunep

4.

Wokha

Dr. Manpu

9436430330

5.

Longleng

Dr. Imsuyanger

9436003326

6.

Tuensang

Dr. Tangniu

9862327475

7.

Zunheboto

Dr. Moyatoshi

7085974348

8.

Kiphire

Dr. Tsilise

9862515680

9.

Peren

Dr. Kapfo

9436015840

10. Phek

Shri. Ruchu

8132906367

11. Mon

Dr. Manjan

9402740254

9436002353 9436012133

burial in case of death of COVID-19 patients.

As regards, CMO Dimapur explained the protocol of burial of such cases to the members so people could be educated on the issue. CMO clarified that the dead bodies after being disinfected by the medical team could be taken by the relatives for burial or cremation. The only restriction, CMO said was that the dead body should not be touched by the family members.

Once all burial protocols are followed, CMO said there was nothing to worry.

Meanwhile, the meeting decided that wholesale system in Dimapur would continue till further orders.

DC Dimapur appreciated and expressed satisfaction over the manner in which lockdown has been enforced presently in Dimapur. He said that all precautionary measures were being taken to contain the coronavirus. Further, he said that Dimapur COVID 19 Hospital was “fully geared up and equipped” and ready to take patients.

“With cooperation from all sectors, we will definitely be able to defeat COVID 19,” DC said.

COVID-19: PM says India will stand by Maldives NEW DELHI, APR 20 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on the “health and economic challenges” the COVID-19 pandemic poses for the island nation.

“The special bond between India and Maldives strengthens our resolve to fight this common enemy together,” the prime minister tweeted.

India will stand by its close maritime neighbour and friend in this challenging time, he said.

Noting the special challenges that the pandemic poses for a tourismdependent economy like the Maldives, the prime minister assured the Maldivian President of continued Indian support for minimising the health and economic impact of COVID-19, an official statement later said.

The leaders updated each other about the current state of COVID-19 infections in their countries.

(From p-1) The union also stated that repeated appeals to the government to procure an ambulance have gone in vain. It claimed that an emergency ambulance delivered for Mon to tackle the present situation was ordered to be returned back to Kohima by the higher authority. In this connection, the union has strongly urged the responsible department to immediately dispatch an ambulance for Mon district.

In education sector, KU said that since educational institutions were closed the state government should come up with an innovative step to impart lessons through alternative ways so as to keep in touch with the syllabus. Concerning procurement of essential commodities, the KU has directed the Mon Chamber of Commerce to allow goods-laden vehicles to proceed after disinfection at the border gate to ease the problems faced by the consumers and as

well as suppliers. Further, taking into consideration the second phase of lockdown, the union has strongly appealed to the law enforcing authority to compulsorily seal all the border entry points strictly especially Assam-Nagaland border. KU suggested that minor routes (short cuts) not accessible by vehicular movements should also be monitored. As assured by security authority and district administration to keep vigil in the border, the KU has directed all the respective KU branch/student bodies to extend full cooperation in fight against the pandemic. Meanwhile, noting that many Naga people/students stranded outside the state were struggling even for basic necessities, the union has urged the government to take up the issue and provide assistance to those facing hardship. Further, the union has appealed Village Guard department to grant additional fund and supply basic amenities to VGs manning the borders.

TR Zeliang asks govt not to give step-motherly...

(From p-1) While Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) granted a ration card holder 35 kg of rice at Rs 3 per kg per household every month, he said the Priority House Holds (PHH) entitled 5 kg of rice at Rs 3 per kilo for every member of the household every month.

As every ration card holder was entitled to 5 kg of rice free of cost for April, May and June under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, Zeliang called upon the F&CS department headed by the ADS in Peren district to strictly implement the above schemes so that the deserving beneficiaries were not deprived. Should there be any misuse or manipulation and shortages, he cautioned that the matter would be seriously pursued to unearth the malpractices and bring to justice people responsible for the same.

And if there was any defaulter under NFSA, a transporter or any official of the district, during this crisis period, he warned that the accused would be held responsible and proceeded against for necessary action under appropriate sections of law. This was stated in a press release by information & publicity wing of the office of LoO.

India has been reasonably successful in containing spread of COVID-19: LS Speaker New Delhi, Apr 20 (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said India has been “reasonably successful” in containing the spread of the novel coronavirus and hailed all frontline workers are fighting this difficult battle selflessly for the sake of the nation.

Birla, who arrived at the Parliament House on Monday upon resumption of the functioning of the Lok Sabha secretariat, said extensive social distancing protocols have been put in place and wearing of masks have been made mandatory for all persons entering Parliament premises.

“India has been reasonably successful in its efforts to contain the spread of this virus and with the cooperation of the people, the nation shall be able to defeat this disease,” Birla was quoted in an official statement issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat.

He further said that the secretariat is in touch with all Members of Parliament, who are leading

Om Birla efforts within their constituencies to spread awareness about the disease and to ensure that people are taking all the requisite precautions related to social distancing.

Applauding the health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel and others, who are described as “corona warriors”, the Speaker said they have shown tremendous willpower in containing the deadly pandemic.

Birla urged the people to extend respect to them, as they have fought this difficult battle selflessly

for the sake of the nation, while saying that the country’s corona warriors “deserve accolades and support of all stakeholders in our national strategy to contain the impact of the disease”.

Besides Birla, the officers and members of staff of the Secretariat also resumed their respective official duties from Monday.

All vehicles entering the Parliament House premises are being sanitized, along with thermal scanning of all persons, the statement reads.

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXx NO. 134 Dimapur, TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

U

Sino-US viral war

S President Donald Trump said claimed that U.S. intelligence officials were investigating whether the novel coronavirus began spreading after an accident at a Chinese high-security biomedical laboratory in Wuhan. Many in the liberal media were sceptical about it pointing out that Trump offered no evidence supporting that scenario.

Such an allegation needs to be substantiated and China has to accept the challenge by inviting the world’s scientists to the country to carry out independent investigation in its laboratories. Without that all allegations would never lead to conclusions , which ultimately may never resolve questions that have surfaced. On the other hand, China’s lack of transparency over its COVID-19 outbreak has helped give oxygen to theories about the origin of the virus.

Beijing has clouded and revised information about its infections and deaths and detained medical workers who blew the whistle over concerns about China’s handling of its response. A media agency found China didn’t inform the public about the virus for nearly a week, enabling it to spread undetected at a vital moment. China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao has also pushed a false counter-narrative that coronavirus originated with the U.S. military.

That tit-for-tat between the Chinese and Americans does no justice to the need for answers. There has to be some explanation about how the Wuhan virus, which was later modified by a pro-China WHO as COVID-19, became what it is today- a Frankenstein out of control. One of the views was that COVID-19 originated from bats. However in a March 11,2020 interview with Scientific American, Shi Zhengli, one of China’s leading experts on bat coronaviruses and deputy director of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, said that when her team sequenced the genome of the new coronavirus in Wuhan it did not match any of the bat coronaviruses her laboratory had previously collected and studied. A research paper by a group of Chinese scientists published in January by The Lancet, a well-respected British medical journal, revealed the first COVID-19 patient, identified on December 1,2019 had no apparent connection to Wuhan’s wet market. Nor did about a third of the initial large cluster of confirmed cases, a revelation that’s raised eyebrows. There are many views, several from the scientific community about the origin of the virus which was known to Chinese virologists.

The views suggest that the Chinese had done some experiments with a SARS-like virus by altering its genetic make up. If that is true, then speculations that the COVID-19 also contains code of HIV-like gene or strands of other deadly diseases cannot also be ruled out. China is also countering the US charge by alleging that the virus was engineered in the US and later spread to China from an American cyclist. While spreading conspiracy theories-stories involving claims that shadowy, powerful interests have secretly engineered events to their own advantage- is a time-honored ploy by which states try to discredit their rivals, the first global pandemic of the social-media era shows just how efficiently wild theories can travel. These need to be ascertained for the sake and future of the entire world now facing a pandemic and with no vaccine to treat the more than 24 lakh cases.

DailyDevotion Can a Saint Falsely Accuse God? All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen… —2 Corinthians 1:20 Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities, but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost.

We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.

The servant justified himself, while condemning his lord on every point, as if to say, “Your demand on me is way out of proportion to what you gave to me.” Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? (Matthew 6:33). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.” A person who is lazy in the natural realm is always critical, saying, “I haven’t had a decent chance,” and someone who is lazy in the spiritual realm is critical of God. Lazy people always strike out at others in an independent way.

Never forget that our capacity and capability in spiritual matters is measured by, and based on, the promises of God. Is God able to fulfill His promises? Our answer depends on whether or not we have received the Holy Spirit.

Quotes

Perfection is the child of time. ~ Joseph Hall

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

Post-mortem

Police brutality in times of crisis!

T

he Police indeed have a daunting task of enforcing the lockdown measures pursuant to the COVID19 pandemic. Still, the use of force, particularly in Nagaland, is unwarranted and calls for strong condemnation.

Vide order dated 24.03.2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs invoked the provisions of The Disaster Management Act, 2005, and issued guidelines to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

The said guidelines exempted the hospitals, doctors, and other health care workers from the lockdown measures. Furthermore, to ensure the strict compliance of the guidelines and prevent possible misuse the Ministry also directed that any person violating the containment measures would be liable to be proceeded against as per provisions of section 51 to 60 of The Disaster Management, Act 2005 besides being punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The Act provides that a person violating the orders of the authorities would be liable to imprisonment for up to two years. This could be coupled with a fine.

The guidelines are self-sufficient and provide for adequate measures for compliance and, in no manner, justify police excesses. High handedness of police is not new to this country.

The most recent being the 2019 Jamia Milia Islamia attack.

State in a given scenario can use reasonable force against the violators, but what begs the question is how much force is a reasonable force? What remedy does one have if one is subjected to atrocities com-

mitted by the Police?

The Supreme Court in Anita Thakur v. State of J&K, (2016) 15 SCC 525 after relying on a conspectus of precedents has settled the issue and has held as follows: “18 When we examine the present matter in the aforesaid conspectus, we find that initially, it was the petitioners/ protestors who took the law into their hands by turning their peaceful agitation into a violent one and in the process becoming unruly and pelting stones at the Police. On the other hand, even the police personnel continued the use of force beyond limits after they had controlled the mob. In the process, they continued their lathi-charge.

They continued to beat up all the three petitioners even after overpowering them. They had virtually apprehended these petitioners making them immobile. However, their attack on these petitioners continued even thereafter when it was not at all needed. As far as injuries suffered by these petitioners are concerned, such a situation could clearly be avoided. It is apparent that to that extent, the respondents misused their power. To that extent, fundamental right of the petitioners, due to police excess, has been violated. In such circumstances, in exercise of its power under Article 32 of the Constitution, this Court can award compensation to the petitioners. (See Saheli v. Commr. of Police [Saheli v. Commr. of Police, (1990) 1 SCC 422 : 1990 SCC (Cri) 145] , Joginder Kaur v. Punjab State [Joginder Kaur v. Punjab State, 1969 ACJ 28 : 1968 SCC OnLine P&H

247] , State of Rajasthan v.

Vidhyawati [State of Rajasthan v. Vidhyawati, 1962 Supp (2) SCR 989 : AIR 1962 SC 933] and Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa [Nilabati Behera v.

State of Orissa, (1993) 2 SCC 746 : 1993 SCC (Cri) 527] .)

The ratio of these precedents can be explained thus: First, it is clear that a violation of fundamental rights due to police misconduct can give rise to a liability under public law, apart from criminal and tort law. Secondly, that pecuniary compensation can be awarded for such a violation of fundamental rights. Thirdly, it is the State that is held liable and, therefore, the compensation is borne by the State and not the individual police officers found guilty of misconduct. Fourthly, this Court has held that the standard of proof required for proving police misconduct such as brutality, torture and custodial violence and for holding the State accountable for the same, is high. It is only for patent and incontrovertible violation of fundamental rights that such remedy can be made available. Fifthly, the doctrine of sovereign immunity does not apply to cases of fundamental rights violation and hence, cannot be used as a defence in public law.”

It is thus clear that the victims who suffer a violation of their human rights on account of police brutality have an adequate remedy in law, and they must avail them to set an example to prevent further misuse.

Athungo Shitiri, Lingrijan, Dimapur, (shitriatungo@gmail.com)

Wake-up call from COVID-19

W

e have had enough of the corruption in our state and we have also learned how to adjust with it. We never thought of voicing against the wrong doers and we never expect our leaders to do good things even in our wildest dream. But at this hour, we need to come together as one regardless of rich and poor, big and small etc. to combat with this deadliest virus. We can’t just go with the flow like any other days. I am afraid our silence and negligence may become a cry tomorrow.

I can understand all the illegal activities done to loot money in the pass, I know you securing your future and the future of your great grandchildren. We have given you enough opportunities by not raising our voice. This is our way of life and we have been doing this for generations. But however, this virus has come to wake us all up and we must wake up; we have no choice. This virus is analysing all our deeds, how we have lived. We have no good road, ambulance service and health centre etc. and we never did realise the need of all these facilities. Now I am starting to question myself that what will happen if the rural areas of our state are badly affected. Are they going to die struggling to reach Dimapur? If the government provides helicopter to every village, then we have no problem with the road conditions, but however this seems a joke and it’s not funny.

Right now, the state government failed to provide even basic equipments to ambulance drivers.

The same thing will happen to doctors and nurses. We can’t blame them when they refused to give their service because they are not Jesus Christ to sacrifice their lives for us.

The colony people and neighbour are hesitant to make them enter in

their respective colonies. Though the people are showing the dark side of Christianity, we can’t criticise them randomly because the people who are engaged with COVID-19 are not well protected.

Our state had enough time to get prepared yet we are not prepared; the COVID-19 hospital is not yet ready to admit the patients.

The world is struggling to invent COVID-19 vaccine while Nagaland is struggling to set up COVID-19 lab. That is the difference between us and the rest of the world. The state government should stop playing with fire. At this hour, they should tackle the situation in a best way possible.

Whether we like it or not, we are on the same boat, if I fall we fall together. If you are thinking that you can easily fly off to Delhi once you are affected, you are making a great mistake. So dear leaders, kindly use 20.5 crore sanctioned by he central government to combat the virus wisely or else you can’t use that money even for your funeral if you are affected and die of COVID-19. Even a royal and many celebrities around the world died of COVID-19, who are you to be spared? The corona won’t ask you who you are or how much money you have in your bank account; they will just attack your respiratory system.

If SARS-CoV-2 spread like a wild fire in Nagaland, no doubts we are going to learn that honesty, discipline and social responsibility are not bullshits, most importantly it will teach us what equality is. So my dear fellow citizens and leaders, we need to come together as one because we have reached the brink of doom. If we don’t stand up today, we may never stand up at all.

Ngaupu A, Nagaland University, Lumami

Urgent need for official COVID-19-dedicated website

(From previous issue) Issue 3. Information/ education for all: Mass education of citizens who speak disparate tongues is Nagaland’s real and unique challenge. Many developed nations that would not ordinarily have language as hurdles to disseminating clear guidelines about COVID-19 are still suffering a huge loss of lives to Covid-19. It is a frightening prospect to imagine what will happen to Nagaland if/when community infection starts. Provision of vital information to ALL sections, must be a State’s government’s primary official obligation.

Suggestion: In Nagaland, the clear COVID19 related guidelines must be made available in as many languages as possible, including languages of tribes that are not formally recognised in Nagaland.

This can be achieved, quite effortlessly and cheaply in my opinion, through the Official Call for volunteers for translation as suggested in my petition. A single script should be made for each of the several critical topics related to COVID-19 (e.g., at-risk groups, symptoms and causes, etc.), the script after approval by the GON will be translated by volunteers. This information will need to periodically be updated as we learn

more about this virus, so it would be most efficiently done when a single script is used as the template that is to be translated.

Issue 4. Needle in a haystack: The common people do not need the large majority of the official legislative notifications and regulations that are being issued to the respective departments.

Any person wanting to search the Internet for GON-approved COVID19awareness materials and important updates in the state will likely Google the key words “Nagaland COVID-19”. However, so far, Internet searches for the key words “Nagaland COVID-19” yield only the disparate news items. This is a significant deterrent to effective mass dissemination.

Suggestion: The GON has launched an official COVID-19 website; the website should be optimised to pop up as one of the top Google hits.

Issue 5. From the horse’s mouth: The public outcries on several critical issues related to COVID19 (to cite one example, COVID-19 hospital in Dimapur) is putting huge stress on the GON. This harms the public faith in the GON, distracts the government officials and the public from focussing on

real issues, and is also very damaging for the citizens’ individual and collective mental health.

Regular official public addresses detailing the progresses being made on several fronts, as is being done even at state level elsewhere in northeast India (e.g., Sikkim) is critically needed. Currently, Nagaland citizens are learning of certain critical updates and progresses being made by the GON from news media, whereas other updates are being provided through social media (for example tweets by public leaders).

The problem is that there is no single platform and this is causing widespread confusion and anxiety.

Suggestion: I suggest that the Nagaland Health Minister make regular public addresses and post these videos on the official GON COVID-19 website.

No information regarding COVID-19 should be spread on social media by government officials that is not referred to on the GON Covid-19 website.

If the GON officials must use social media, it should only be to direct the public to official updates on the GON website.

The Sikkim Government has, long ago, realised the importance of effective mass communication, and quite immediately put in

place a Covid-19website (https://www.covid19sikkim.org/) with a simple layout which is easily navigable for the general public.

The website provides exhaustive resources on any topic related to COVID-19.

The Sikkimese website may be considered as an excellent template for consideration by the GON for further development of its COVID-19 website.

A recent research paper titled The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-2019) Outbreak: Amplification of Public Health Consequences by Media Exposure was published on March 23, 2020by researchers from the University of California, U.S.A., in Journal of Health Psychology. They drew from work on previous public health crises (e.g., disease outbreaks) and demonstrated that in the absence of information or lack of effective communication from officials, ambiguity can lead to potentially severe public [mental] health repercussions, increased anxiety, and heightened stress.

During the brief lockdown, Nagaland has already seen many crimes, petty and serious. As a firm believer in the power of knowledge and community awareness, I believe that many of the crimes resulting from paranoia, confu-

sion and misinformation may have been prevented.

It would be fair to assume that if our community is “fully educated, engaged and empowered”, as WHO has recently recommended, the anxiety, the rumours, the unrest can all be drastically minimised.

Despite the extensive efforts of the international scientific community, and promising (but very preliminary) news about advances in vaccine development, in reality, a publically available vaccine is still at least 18 months away based on current estimates. There is no universally accepted anti-viral treatment available to treat patients with confirmed COVID-19, because scientific investigations to manage or treat COVID19 patients are still only at an experimental stage. The evidence of clinical efficacy is still lacking. Like it or not COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

How long, realistically, can the whole of Nagaland, remain in a lockdown when many of the remote areas’ only lifeline consists of only a single dirt road?

I request the Gover nment of Nagaland, especially the recently set up multi-department “COVID-19 War Room”, to please consider “arming” the citizens firstly with knowledge through

Half a doctor for every 1000 people in Nagaland?

S

olely government of Nagaland is responsible for this huge vacuum. Why? How? Let me explain. Almost every year about 50-60 MBBS students graduate from across the country and overseas and they (GON) hardly recruit or advertise for the post, the reason being unknown (only God knows). Whereas states like Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, those governments recruit almost 100-120 young doctors as medical officers every year and our state Nagaland hardly recruit 16-18 posts once in 2 years

or so. That’s why we lack in everything in regards to health sector. Many qualified/specialist doctors due to unequipped government hospitals cannot practice what they are expert/specialised at. Nagaland is not young state anymore, it is already 57 years old and no medical college. It is highly questionable and really to ponder upon it. When we look at our neighbouring states, they have at least one medical college each, some two or even more.

Where are the funds for this gone? Last year 2019 our PM Narendra Modi Ji

has announced at least one medical college for every three districts when we as a state fighting for one. Hope this corona pandemic will open eyes of our government to focus on health sector (not only on music & festivals-as stated by one at social media recently), Government of India has sanctioned for ambulance called 108 but I am not sure how many patients are benefitted, Ayushmann Bharat scheme - free treatment and free medications even at private hospitals and only God know how functional and profitable

to patients. How long are we going to refer patients outside state? Many poor patients must be saved by God’s grace. This doesn’t mean we lack qualified/ specialist doctors but in fact we have many qualified specialists and super specialist doctors, how can a carpenter works without proper equipments? Nagaland needs well equipped medical colleges or institutes. Hope and pray that someday dreams come true.

In God we trust. Hope my voice and concern reach government of Nagaland.

Dr C Manpa Phom MD

effective mass communication through the COVID-19 website. What we all must understand very clearly is that we are not actually at “war”. SARS-COV2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, is not an “enemy” because a virus is not even technically alive, and so does not even have the “consciousness” to “attack” us, let alone know that we exist. It is a simply a new disease that we do not currently know how to treat. So, the first line of defence, in such an unconventional “war” where the use of force and physical ammunition is not an option, must be knowledge. Nagaland will not be able to manage the COVID19 pandemic without its populace understanding how to protect themselves from this indiscriminate threat. Like it or not, a global pandemic such as COVID-19 is reaching even the remotest regions of the world. Efficient coordination and management from the GON can and will provide the necessary information for the public to protect themselves from the devastation seen in elsewhere in the world.

(Concluded) Dr. Rachunliu G Kamei (Scientific Associate, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London)

Reader’s Post

Remembering the voiceless

Sir,

On April 14, Modi announced a 3 week extension of the lockdown. For battered women and children living with abusive parents, it is a prison sentence that only got longer.

Has the State government set up a helpline for victims of domestic abuse during the lockdown? For now we can only hope and pray that the voiceless are looked after by good Samaritans.

Many of us cherish every moment spent with families because after the lockdown, we will go back to our own workplaces but the home for many is no better than hell.

Apong Lemtur, Kohima

Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

No fresh cases of COVID-19 in Meghalaya NEIGRIHMS nodal hospital for samples test

Correspondent SHILLONG, APR 19: No fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported in Meghalaya on Sunday even as out of 766 samples tested, 678 were negative, while the results of 77 tests were awaited, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.

Meghalaya has recorded 10 active COVID-19 positive cases in less than a week, all linked to the family of the 69-year-old doctor who died on April 15 less than 48 hours of infection.

“All the people who tested positive are stable and in home quarantine, while the domestic help of index patient in institutional quarantine,” Sangma said, adding that at this point in time, there are 4,198 people in home quarantine and 175 under institutional quarantine. On the other hand, the state government has declared central-run North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), as a nodal hospital for testing of samples for COVID-19.

State’s Commissioner and Secretary for Health

Conrad Sangma

and Family Welfare, P Sampath Kumar said the government has proposed to have another two centre facility at Nazareth hospital and the state-owned Pasteur Institute to conduct COVID19 tests.

“We have spoken to the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) ICMR) for their approval to allow these two centres to conduct the COVID-19 test,” he said, adding that the government is waiting for the approval.

Informing that the Catholic-run Nazareth hospital is already equipped with BSL 2 laboratory to conduct the test, Kumar said, “They (Nazareth Hospital) require an accreditation from NABL (National Accreditation Board for

Testing and Calibration Laboratories).” “We have asked NEIGRIHMS to do some site verification on these facilities so NEIGRIHMS had been made a nodal or mentor organisation for testing.

So they will look after and observe all the laboratories as recommend,” he said.

Following the first detection of COVID-19 positive in Shillong on April 13, the government had to send samples to Assam’s Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and Barpeta Medical College because of the urgency of the matter and limited capacity of the testing facility at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences.

On the other hand,

the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has expressed regret to Meghalaya government’s proposal for use of two Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machine to conduct tests for COVID-19 in the state.

“They (ICAR) have replied saying that they had some issues with the capacity so we are looking at alternate plans now,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister said the government is using the Quarantine App developed by IIT-Mumbai and those who have visited Bethany hospital in Shillong and Nongpoh and those identified as primary contact or secondary contact of the COVID-19 positive patients are mandated to download the Corontine App to effectively monitor home quarantine.

“The database of about 5,300 individuals who fall in the above categories is with the health and family welfare department. These individuals will all receive an SMS or a link via WhatsApp on their mobile phones to download the app today,” he said.

Bethany hospital declared COVID-19 hotspot The Meghalaya government declared Bethany hospital a COVID-19 hotspot after it evacuated all staffs and patients from the hospital on Sunday night, Health and Family Welfare Minister, A.L.Hek said on Monday.

Founder of Bethany hospital Dr. John L. Sailo Rynthathiang died from the contagious disease on April 15.

“Bethany hospital is now temporarily closed to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. All patients and staff of the hospital were evacuated on Sunday night and transferred to different locations,” Hek told UNI. “All patients and staff of Bethany hospital tested negative and all of them have been strictly asked to undergo quarantine,” the health minister said, adding that indoor patients of Bethany hospital have been shifted to other hospitals in the city.Hek said the process of sanitizing the hospital has started.

Lockdown: Govt offices open, work Assam pays Rs 2,000 each begins in select activities in Sikkim to people stranded outside

G ang to k , A pr 2 0 (PTI): Government offices started functioning and work in select activities resumed in Sikkim on Monday during the ongoing lockdown while adhering to the consolidated revised guidelines issued by the Centre on April 15, officials said.

While the extended coronavirus-induced lockdown remains in force till May 3 next, state government offices opened with one-third of employees reporting for duty on roster basis, they said.

The state government has allowed operation of three Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) buses for ferrying state government employees on duty.

It may be mentioned that Sikkim remains a COVID-19-free state.

The consolidated revised guidelines on the measures to be taken by central ministries and departments, and state and Union Territory governments were issued on April 15 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced extension of the nationwide lockdown

till May 3.

The lockdown was earlier from March 25 to April 14.

Agriculture, construction, Information Technology and industrial units in the SEZs and rural areas were among some sectors where the restrictions would be lifted with safeguards from April 20 in a bid to kickstart the country’s battered economy and reduce the distress caused to millions of people, the guidelines had said.

Farming and construction activities resumed in the state with riders to the farmers to maintain social distance, while work at the construction projects have to be carried out only by local labourers, they said.

Under-construction power projects and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and other essential goods too have been allowed to begin operations.

Goods carriers and heavy vehicles carrying construction materials plied on the roads in Sikkim after screening at Rango and Melli check posts.

The Excise department

has allowed the opening of Foreign Liquor Retail (FLR) shops in Sikkim from 9am to 5 pm, except on dry days.

The licensee of the FLR shops shall be personally responsible for deploying staff to ensure maintaining of social distancing of at least 1 metre between the customers, a circular issued by the Excise department said, adding that face masks should be worn by the staff at all times.

Meat shops and wet markets have also been given relaxation during the extended phase of the lockdown.

However, inter-state travel has been restricted and private and public transport vehicles have been barred from plying.

Only transport vehicles and emergency vehicles authorised by the district administration are being allowed within the state.

All Gram Panchayat Units (GPU) in the state have been given two vehicles each, one for medical emergency and another for carrying essential commodities.

Guwahati, Apr 20 (PTI): The Assam government on Monday deposited Rs 2,000 each under a “special scheme” to the accounts of 86,000 people from the state, who are stranded across India due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Addressing a press conference here, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision to provide financial support to those stuck at different places was taken by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a review meeting on Sunday.

“This is the first instalment of financial support to the needy people from Assam who are stranded outside. The second instalment will be released before the lockdown is lifted,” Sarma said.

He, however, said the amount for the second tranche has not been decided yet.

“In the first phase, we identified 99,758 people eligible to get this assistance.

The rest will get the money within the next few days,” said Sarma, who is also the

state’s health and family welfare minister.

He said the special s c h e m e wa s l a u n c h e d through an IT-enabled system, and 4,29,851 people had contacted the state government officials via the central server in Guwahati.

“After final verification of the names and bank details, 99,758 persons were found to be eligible,” he added.

Sarma said this initiative has also helped create a database of the workers and labourers from Assam employed in other states, with Karnataka recording the largest number at 68,000.

“Now, when they arrive in Assam after the lockdown is lifted, we will be able to track them easily.

Accordingly, the DCs and SPs will make arrangements for quarantine,” the minister said.

Sarma said the state government has already deposited Rs 25,000 each to families of 647 people from Assam, who are suffering from different ailments and undergoing treatment outside the state after getting stranded due to the curbs.

Assam targets Mnp orders partial relaxation for 15 sectors creating 1,000

Correspondent

IMPHAL, Apr 20: Locality based retails shops dealing with essential commodities like groceries for daily use, vegetables, fruits, poultry meat and fish will be opened in all districts in Manipur from 6 am to 2 pm on all days except Sundays as the state government on Monday decided to relax 15 sectors from the purview of the lockdown and curfew.

State home department issued an order citing relaxation for 15 sectors today after a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister N Biren Singh thoroughly discussed the matter in line with the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Lockdown 2.0.

Apart from the 15 sectors, home delivery of essential commodities will also be allowed. Social distancing must however be maintained by all and mask should be compulsorily worn by people visiting public place.

Wholesale markets at Imphal will be opened on Tuesday, Thursday and K Y M C

5

Northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

Saturday for sale to retails shops as per permit issued by deputy commissioners of each district.

However, movement of people on vehicles will be restricted except those holding pass.

With effect from April 21, all goods vehicles will be allowed to cross interstate border at Mao, Jessami (bordering Nagaland) and Jiribam (bordering Assam).

However, movement of all trucks and other carrier vehicles will be allowed with two drivers and one helper only including empty trucks after delivery of goods or pick up of goods.

Shops for trucks repairs and dhabas on highways will be allowed with prescribed social distancing.

A marathon cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister N Biren Singh today resolved to relax the 15 sectors from the purview of the lockdown. The meeting commenced from 10.30 am lasted for about three hours.

The cabinet thoroughly deliberated on issues arising out of prolonged lockdown in line with an order of the

Union ministry home affairs issued on April 15 last.

The order had stated that some more activities would be exempted from the lockdown after April 20 to mitigate hardships of the public depending upon the extent of spread of the infection in the area and subject to all necessary preparation and arrangement of social distancing norms at work places, offices, factories etc.

An official source said today’s cabinet meeting considered the present state of lockdown and activities that can be exempted from the lockdown or partial relaxation in accordance with the list of activities given in the consolidated guidelines issued by the Union ministry of home affairs.

The relaxation to be given to the 15 sectors will be effective from April 21 and will be in force in all parts of the state till May 3, 2020.

Other sectors relaxed include health related activities like hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and dispensatories.

Chemists, pharmacies

and all kinds of medicine shops including Jan Aushadhi Kendras and medical equipment shops, medical laboratories and collection centres will also be allowed to function.

Veterinary hospitals, dispensaries, clinics and related pathological laboratories along with sale and supply of vaccines are also included in the relaxation.

The relaxation will also include public utilities, agricultural and related activities, fisheries, animal husbandry, finance sector, social sector, online teaching, MGNREGA works, commercial and private establishments, construction activities.

Movement of private vehicles for emergency services including medical and veterinary care and all exempted category of employees attending work place will also be relaxed.

State government offices will be opened, all officers of the rank of under secretary and above will attend. However, in respect of other categories, 33 percent of the staff will attend on rotation basis.

ICU beds

Guwahati, Apr 20 (PTI): The Assam government on Monday said it has shelved a plan to construct five temporary hospitals for COVID-19 patients, and in its place set a target of creating 1,000 ICU beds at its permanent facilities across the state.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the decision was taken considering the current situation in which permanent infrastructure in the healthcare sector needs to be strengthened in the state. On March 26, Sarma had announced that the state was planning to build five temporary hospitals with 300 beds each across the state to treat COVID-19 positive patients.

Sarma, who is also the state Finance minister, informed that the government has collected Rs 99.56 crore as donations in Asom Arogya Nidhi account. for creating the temporary structures, but it will stop collecting it after the amount touches Rs 101 crore.

COVID-19: Assam gets 9,600 Chinese test kits from Centre

Guwahati, Apr 20 (PTI): Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said the Centre has sent 9,600 Chinese rapid test kits for COVID-19, and appealed to people to not create any controversy over the products’ import.

With the help of the kits, the state government has decided to reopen all the COVID-19 hospitals for general patients from April 24, except one in Guwahati, Sarma said at a press conference here.

The arrival has come two days after Assam had put on hold using 50,000 personal protective equipment it imported from China after apprehensions were raised over its quality, creating doubts in the minds of the doctors and nurses.

Sharp reactions had come from residents on two counts - ideological difference with the neighbouring nation and the product quality. The health minister, however, had dubbed the allegations “baseless”.

Sarma had himself received the consignment of 50,000 PPEs that Assam

Sitharaman to discuss states’ financial issues

Guwahati, Apr 20 (IANS): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would soon discuss the states’ financial affairs with their Finance Ministers through video link, Assam’s Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said here on Monday.

“The Finance Minister told me on Sunday morning that she would discuss the financial affairs of states with their Finance Ministers soon,” Sarma said. Sitharaman assured all possible help from the Centre to states in this time of crisis, he added.

Sarma was addressing the media after launching “Assam Cares” app to provide financial aid to thousands of Assamese stranded in various states due to lockdown.

He said through phones and online platforms, over 4.25 lakh Assamese stranded in other states had been contacted.

“Today (Monday) we are extending a one-time ex gratia of Rs 2,000 to 86,000 of the 4.25 lakh people.

Another instalment would also be considered during the lockdown,” he said.

Himanta Biswa Sarma

had directly imported from Guangzhou in China on April 15.

“The Government of India has sent us 9,600 rapid testing kits, which were imported from China. These give results in 15-20 minutes. We are also independently trying to import such kits from ICMR-recognised Chinese companies,” Sarma said.

He appealed to everyone to not create any controversy over the kits, keeping in view the health emergency.

“Let us all trust the ICMR and governments at the Centre and state.

We will get time in future

to talk about our political ideology and differences,” Sarma said.

He informed that the rapid test kits will be initially sent to a few hotspots, including the Guwahatibased high-end apartment Spanish Garden (50 kits), Athgaon Kabarstan area (25 kits) and Laharighat in Morigaon district (200 kits).

The rest of the kits will be distributed among the government hospitals across the state.

“Empowered by these kits, we have decided to open all our COVID-19 hospitals from April 24.

Now, doctors will be able to test all the general patients for COVID-19 if they have any doubt,” Sarma said.

Only the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Guwahati will continue to be the dedicated COVID-19 hospital, he added.

The health minister said the agreement between the government and private hospitals to share the load of general patients will continue for some time as the threat of novel coronavirus is not eliminated until a vaccine is invented.

One more cured of COVID-19 in Assam; total recoveries rise to 18

Guwahati, Apr 20 (PTI): One more person was cured of COVID19 and discharged from a hospital in Assam on Monday, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 18, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

“One #COVID19 patient - Hazrat Ali has been discharged today from Sonapur Civil Hospital, after his two successive tests confirmed as negative,” Sarma tweeted.

With this, the total number of cured persons has gone up to 18 and all have been requested to strictly follow the home quarantine guidelines, he said.

A total of 4,865 samples have been tested for coronavir us so far, of which results for 34 have returned positive. Of the COVID-19 patients in the state, one has died, the health department said on Sunday night.

However, as per the Union health ministry, 35 coronavirus cases have been reported in Assam so far.

Of the cured patients, six were released from the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital here, four from the Golaghat Civil Hospital, three each from Goalpara and Sonapur civil hospitals and one each from the Gauhati and Silchar medical college and hospitals.

At present, 15 COVID-19 patients from Assam and a patient from Nagaland are being treated in medical establishments in the state.

Meanwhile, the first batch of doctors and nurses quarantined at a hotel in the city after treating COVID-19 patients completed their isolation period and were discharged, the minister said.

“We are glad that 6 out of 43 doctors/nurses who were quarantined at Taj Vivanta Hotel after having treated #COVID patients are being discharged today.

“Yet another occasion for us to express our gratitude to doctors and nurses for their Herculean contributions. Big bow!,” Sarma said in another twitter post.

Coronavirus: No fresh case in Mizoram since March 25

Aizawl, Apr 20 (PTI): Mizoram has not reported any case of novel coronavirus after the state reported its first positive case on March 25, a senior official said on Monday.

A 50-year-old pastor, who had travel history to Amsterdam, had tested positive on March 25.

He is undergoing treatment at the Zoram Medical College in the state.

State health and family welfare board vice chairman and ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Dr ZR Thiamsanga said, at least 132 samples were collected and tested for the virus till date.

According to Thiamsanga, 16 samples were tested at the states lone medical college- Zoram Medical College (ZMC) on Monday and the results were awaited.

Officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday visited the ZMC and interacted with officials over measures to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The ZMC is a dedicated Covid-19 hospital in the state.

Meanwhile, samples of 35 inmates of the Mizoram house in Mumbai tested negative for novel coronavirus on Monday, Thiamsanga said.

The samples of another 21 inmates, who had earlier tested negative for the virus, have been collected for secondary test and their results are yet to be declared, the official said.

Till date, four persons from the state had tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai.

On April 13, a 22-yearold woman from Aizawl, was found infected with the virus in Mumbai.

The patient had arrived in Mumbai in February and was lodged at Mizoram house.

She was initially undergoing treatment for cancer at a hospital in Mumbai.

On Saturday, state health minister Dr R Lalthangliana had announced that three more people from Mizoram had tested posi-

tive for novel coronavirus in Mumbai.

The three infected patients included two cancer patients and an attendant, he had said.

They were fellow inmates of the first patient, who had tested positive on March 25.

Cong seeks gov's intervention for central assistance

The opposition Congress in Mizoram wrote to Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, seeking his intervention to get assistance from the Centre for stranded residents of the state elsewhere, and aid the fight against the coronavirus outbreak here.

In a memorandum, Congress legislature party leader Zodintluanga Ralte said the state government is currently grappling with a financial crunch amid the outbreak.

He said Chief Minister Zoramthanga, his cabinet colleagues and other legislators were helping the people from their own resources.

K Y M C

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international/sports

17 killed in Canada shooting

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers prepare to take a suspect into custody at a gas station in Enfield, Nova Scotia on Sunday. (PTI)

O T T AWA , A P R 2 0 (IANS): A man wearing a police uniform went on a shooting rampage in Canada’s Nova Scotia province, killing 17 people, in the deadliest such attack in the country’s history, officials said, adding that the suspected gunman was also dead.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Sunday night the suspected shooter, 51-yearold Gabriel Wortman, was killed after being intercepted by officers, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) said

in a news report. Of the 17 victims, RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson was killed in the rampage, while a male officer suffered nonlife threatening injuries.

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told CBC News on Sunday evening said the fatalities surpassed the 14 victims killed in the 1989 Polytechnique massacre in Montreal.

Lucki said she believed the shooter had an initial “motivation” at the beginning that “turned to randomness”.

RCMP Chief Supt.

Chris Leather said the first

reports of an active shooter came earlier on Sunday from Portapique, a community about 40 km west of Truro, which residents described as a quiet place to live that attracts people from the provincial capital of Halifax in summer.

Upon arrival, police found “several casualties” inside and outside a Portapique residence, he said, but they could not locate the suspect. He added there were “multiple sites in the area including structures that were on fire”, CBC News reported Later in the day, the suspect was

Spain’s confirmed coronavirus cases surpass 200,000 MADRID, APR 20 (AGENCIES): The number of people diagnosed with the new coronavirus in Spain has surpassed the 200,000 threshold, the country’s health ministry said on Monday. The ministry said the number of cases rose to 200,210 from 195,944 cases on Sunday. Spain has the second highest number of diagnosed cases in the world after the United States, according to Reuters data. The cumulative death toll from the coronavirus rose to 20,852 on Monday from 20,453 the day before, the ministry said.

China calls for stronger testing regime to detect coronavirus BEIJING/SHANGHAI (AGENCIES): China’s health authority called for a stronger and more rigorous testing regime to ensure that the new coronavirus does not escape detection, whether in travellers arriving from abroad or from other parts of the country. All localities must improve their testing capabilities, including those at border crossings, and report any epidemic information in a timely manner, the National Health Commission cited its director Ma Xiaowei as saying. Ma made the comments on Saturday, but they were released publicly by the ministry on Monday.

China reported 12 new confirmed cases on April 19, the lowest since March 13.

Italy’s death toll continues falling; lockdown to be lifted evenly ROME, APR 20 (IANS): Italy’s overall fight to contain the spread of the coronavirus continued to show results, with the number of deaths, intensive-care cases, and new infections all trending downward, based on information from the Ministry of Health and the country’s Civil Protection Department on Sunday.

Italy’s daily death toll continued to fall as a further 433 people had died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the country’s death toll to 23,660, official data showed. Sunday’s number of new deaths was the smallest in a week. It also represented the fourth time in five days that the number of victims of the global pandemic fell in Italy, Xinhua reported. In a social media post uploaded late on Saturday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the national quarantine, first put into place on March 10, could be partially lifted starting May 4, the day after the current lockdown deadline.

Conte said the easing of protection measures would be “based on a wellarticulated program that reconciles the protection of citizens’ health and the need for economic production.”

stopped about 90 km away in Enfield, a scene that was surrounded by a half dozen police vehicles.

Yellow police tape surrounded the gas pumps, and a large silver-coloured SUV was being investigated by police.

A body was seen lying at the gas station but the police did not comment on whether it was Wortman.

Through the morning Sunday, police updates about the active shooter investigation included warnings that Wortman was considered dangerous and may have been dressed as an RCMP officer in a lookalike RCMP vehicle.

“The fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act,” Leather was quoted in the CBC News report as saying.

“This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history,” the CBC report quoted Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil as saying.

In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “As a country, in moments like these, we come together to support one another. Together we will mourn with the families of the victims, and help them get through this difficult time.”

29 Afghan soldiers killed in Taliban attack

KABUL, APR 20 (AP): A wave of Taliban attacks on checkpoints across Afghanistan has killed 29 members of the security forces, officials said Monday.

In northern Takhar province, 19 security personnel were killed in a battle Sunday night in the district of Khwaja Ghor, according to Jawad Hajri, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The Taliban fled the scene after reinforcement arrived, Hajri added.

Meanwhile, in northern Balkh province, a Taliban attack on Sunday morning in the Sholgara district killed seven, according to Adil Shah Adil, spokesman for the provincial police chief.

A child was caught in the crossfire and wounded during the attack, which also killed five Taliban, he added. And in western Badghis province, the Taliban struck an army checkpoint early on Sunday morning, killing three soldiers and wounding 10, said Tahsel Haideri, spokesman for the provincial police chief.

The Taliban, who have not claimed responsibility for the attacks, and President Ashraf Ghani’s government in Kabul are in the process of exchanging prisoners as part of a peace deal signed by the U.S. and the Taliban at the end of February in Doha, Qatar.

Lifting lockdown restrictions is not end of epidemic: WHO G E N E VA , A P R 2 0 (IANS): World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Sunday that lifting lockdown restrictions for COVID-19 is not the end of the epidemic, it’s just the beginning of the next phase.

Speaking at the Group of 20 (G20) Health Ministers virtual meeting from Geneva, the WHO chief said it’s vital in this next phase that countries educate, engage and empower their people to prevent and respond rapidly to any resurgence, Xinhua reported.

“We are encouraged that several G20 countries are now starting to plan how to ease social restrictions. It is critical that these measures are a phased process,” he said.

Tedros told the health ministers that the WHO

is deeply concerned that the virus now appears to be gathering pace in countries that lack the capacity of many G20 countries to respond to it.

“Urgent support is needed, not only to support countries to respond to COVID-19, but to ensure other essential health services continue,” he said.

Tedros also took the opportunity to thank Saudi Arabia for its support to the global fight against the virus. Saudi Arabia announced Thursday a $500 million donation to relevant international organizations to support global efforts in combating the COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of a simple truth: we are one humanity. We share the same planet. We share the same hopes and dreams.

We share the same destiny,” the WHO chief said.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020

US wants to send team of experts inside China for COVID-19 probe: Trump

WASHINGTON, APR 20 (PTI): The US wants to send a team of experts to China to investigate the coronavirus, President Donald Trump has said, a day after he warned Beijing of “consequences” if it was knowingly responsible for the spread of COVID19 which has killed more than 165,000 people globally, including over 41,000 in America.

Describing the coronavirus as a plague, Trump, during his White House news conference on Sunday, said that he is not happy with China where the pandemic emerged in December last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

“We spoke to them (Chinese) a long time ago about going in. We want to go in. We want to see what’s going on. And we weren’t exactly invited, I can tell you that,” the President

Donald Trump

told reporters. “I was very happy with the (trade) deal (with China), very happy with everything and then we found out about the plague and since we found out about that I’m not happy,” he said.

The US has launched an investigation into whether the deadly virus “escaped” from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. He has repeatedly expressed disappointment over China’s handling of the coronavirus disease, alleged non-transparency and

initial non-cooperation from Beijing with Washington on dealing with the crisis.

“Based on an investigation, we are going to find out,” Trump told reporters.

A d ay e a r l i e r, h e warned China that it should face consequences if it was “knowingly responsible” for the spread of the novel coronavirus, upping the ante on Beijing over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If they (China) were knowingly responsible… then there should be consequences. You’re talking about, you know, potentially lives like nobody’s seen since 1917,” Trump said on Saturday. The opposition Democratic Party said that Trump has falsely claimed he acted early by restricting travel from China when it was little too late and he continued to downplay the virus throughout February.

China rejects Trump’s demand to probe coronavirus BEIJING, APR 20 (PTI): China on Monday firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s demand to allow an American team into Wuhan to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus, saying it was also a “victim and not a culprit” of the COVID-19.

The US has launched an investigation into whether the deadly virus “escaped” from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Reacting to Trump’s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here that “the virus is the common enemy for all mankind”. “It may appear at anytime anywhere in the world. Like any other country, China is attacked by this virus. China is a victim instead of the culprit. We are not co-worker for this virus,” he said in a hard-hitting response to Trump’s plan to send a US probe team. Countering US politicians’ assertions that China should be sued for so many deaths in the world, Geng said, “I don’t remember there are any precedence” for such a prosecution. Pointing to H1N1 influenza which was detected in US 2009 as well as HIV/AIDS and the 2008 financial crisis in America which turned into global economic crisis, Geng asked, “did anyone ask US accountability?”

SL Easter bombers planned 2nd attack COLOMBO, APR 20 (IANS): A second attack was planned by the perpetrators of the April 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels killing over 250 people, the Police said, giving a rare update on their year-long investigation.

Information of the planned second attack was revealed by the ongoing investigations into the April 21, 2019, bombings by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Daily Financial Times quoted police spokesman SP Jaliya Senaratne as saying to the media on Sunday.

According to Senaratne, several persons involved in the bombings were arrested recently.

“According to ongoing investigations, it has been revealed that these suspects who were arrested (recently) have worked with certain organisations in order to preach Muslim extremism, misleading

Jaliya Senaratne

youth by giving them a wrong interpretation of Islam,” he said.

Senaratne also denied allegations that a lawyer who was recently arrested was acting in his professional capacity, alleging that he had acted illegally.

“We saw a lot of criticism directed at the CID for arresting the lawyer. I must stress that the CID does not arrest people in an irresponsible manner.

This was a heinous crime; hundreds of people lost their lives, many more were injured.

“Even today, some of those who survived

live with the aid of medical equipment. Therefore enforcing the law strictly against those who were involved in such a crime is the core duty of the police,” he said.

He further said that the CID had found evidence that the suspects had worked with some of the bombers to establish certain organisations, the Daily Financial Times reported.

“Among the suspects arrested are those who provided funding for these organisations and provided leadership for them,” he added, pointing out that investigations were continuing.

On April 21, 2019, three churches and three luxury hotels in Colombo were targeted in the series of coordinated suicide bombings, which apart from the victims also injured more than 500 people.

The attacks were claimed by the Islamic State terror group.

Messi a better footballer than KP picks Malinga as GOAT in IPL Olympic organisers must be flexible if COVID-19 vaccine not ready in time: experts ‘friend’ Ronaldo, feels Rooney

Wayne Rooney

LONDON, APR 20 (IANS/ AGENCIES): Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has weighed into the age-old debate as to which player is better between Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi.

In the last decade or so, the two footballers have broken all scoring records en route adding multiple team and personal titles to their respective illustrious trophy cabinets.

Such has been their effect on world football that Messi has won the coveted

Ballon d’Or a record six times while Ronaldo has won it five times.

Rooney, who shared the dressing room with Ronaldo at Old Trafford, is the latest to jump into the debate but he surprisingly didn’t pick his former teammate over the Barcelona talisman.

“Ronaldo wasn’t as focused on goals when we started playing together but you could see that all he wanted was to be the best player in the world,” Rooney wrote in his column for The Sunday Times.

“He practised and prac-

tised and began to produce.

Cristiano has become an incredible scorer and he and Messi are arguably the best two players the game has seen.

“Despite my friendship with Cristiano, I’d go for Messi. It’s for the same reason I loved watching Xavi and Scholes: it’s the different things in Messi’s game.

I’ve talked about composure and I can’t remember seeing Messi score when he has hit the ball as hard as he could.

He just rolls them in, makes it so easy,” he added.

“Ronaldo is ruthless in the box, a killer. But Messi will torture you before he kills you. With Messi you just get the impression he is having more fun.

Those two have completely changed the game in terms of goalscoring numbers and I don’t think they’ll ever be matched.”

Former England captain Wayne Rooney also said Major League Soccer (MLS) must remove caps on salaries if it is to fulfil its potential and compete with Europe’s top leagues,.

Lasith Malinga

MUMBAI, APR 20 (IANS): Mumbai Indians lethal strike weapon Lasith Malinga was declared the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T) among bowlers in the storied history of the IPL by an esteemed jury of Star Sports on their flagship show Cricket Connected. The Sri Lankan veteran, part of an elite 10bowler nominee list, pipped the likes of Dale Steyn, Ashish Nehra, Sunil Narine and Jasprit Bumrah for the award.

The highest wickettaker in the tournament with 170 wickets in 122 matches, ‘Slinga Malinga’ has been one of those legends who changed the perception of T20 cricket and became one of the early heroes in a batsman-dominated format.

Despite overcoming a string of fitness issues, Malinga has been able to deliver pinpoint

toe-crushers coupled with skillful variations over the last 12 years of the IPL that made him one of the most threatening bowlers to face at any stage of the game, and the unanimous choice for the GOAT bowler. In fact, it was Malinga’s last over that gave Mumbai Indians their fourth title with a one-run, last-ball win in 2019.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen, part of the jury, backed his decision to choose Malinga for the coveted award and said on Cricket Connected,”I’m going with Lasith. You look at the numbers he has served up and the way he has consistently used that yorker, that makes everyone talk about it. Malinga is my guy.

I would go with Narine, but he has bowled on wickets which helped turn. Also, he has been questioned on a few occasions for this suspect bowling action, so I am afraid to say that I am going with Malinga.” In addition, Malinga, the first Sri Lankan to claim four wickets in four deliveries, went past Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Imran Tahir and Yuzvendra Chahal, who were also part of the nominee list.

TOKYO, APR 20 (AGENCIES): The Tokyo Olympics next July will be a “uniquely risky” event, demanding flexibility from organisers amid the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly if a vaccine has not been rolled out by then, medical experts say.

Japan and the International Olympic Committee made the unprecedented decision last month to delay the Games for a year, as the world battles the virus that has infected 2.3 million people and killed more than 150,000 globally.

But questions persist whether the Games can go ahead 15 months from now, as a vaccine could still be at least a year away, according to the most optimistic estimates.

“When we talk about bringing sports back with packed stadiums, I really think that is something we are going to have to wait for a vaccine to be able to do,” said Zach Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University in the United States. Tokyo 2020 is set to run from July 23 to Aug.

8 next year, but organisers expect few changes to the original plan, including attendance by enthusiastic supporters.

But that might be over optimistic, Binney, a specialist in aspects of athlete health, told Reuters.

“Every person that you add to a gathering adds risk,” said Binney, who expects vaccine development would take 1-1/2 years from the start of the outbreak, or until late 2021, at the earliest.

“So once you get up to 50,000, 70,000, 100,000 (fans)... that is an enormous amount of risk to be taking on without a vaccine.”

The Olympics was “a uniquely risky event”,

he added, because of the threats represented by visitors streaming in from areas with a lot of infections, and the reverse flow when they return afterwards, perhaps carrying home infections.

Although more hopeful for a vaccine to be found within a year, Jason Kindrachuk, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Manitoba in Canada, flagged a risk of further delay to the Games, as vaccinating people would take time.

“It is going to push the limits right up to the border of when the Olympics should be starting,” said Kindrachuk, who has worked on outbreaks of Ebola and SARS.

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