June 11, 2020

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Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 185

DIMAPUR, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00

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Community transmission of COVID in Guwahati 19 COVID patients recover; 1 test +ve Spl. Correspondent

GUWAHATI, JUN 10 (NPN): In a major development, Assam’s health & family welfare (H&FW) minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has confirmed community transmission of COVID-19 in the State Capital. Speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Sarma said 13 individuals in the city had tested positive for the virus so far without any travel history. Providing details, he said two new cases were found from Pan Bazaar area of the city – one near Hari Sabha and another from Jain Pharma – during the day. Incidentally, COVID19 cases were detected from both the locations earlier too, indicating that there was community transmission, the minister remarked. He feared that there could be a virus strain in the city that required to be stopped immediately at any cost. As people from different parts of the city went to Pan Bazaar area for buying medicines and other pharmaceutical equipment as most of the distributors and stockists were located there, Sarma said the gov-

90% work completed for BSL-2 in Dimapur

DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (NPN): Health & Family Welfare principal director Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie, during the review meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) members, informed that 90 per cent of the work for the Bio-Safety Lab 2 in Dimapur was completed. He also informed about the work progress for BSL-2 in Tuensang and said it was expected to be completed by this month. Dr. Suokhrie also informed that the testing capacity of the BSL-3 lab in Kohima was increasing steadily. Meanwhile, 45 numbers of ventilators have been dispatched by the Health ministry for Nagaland and was expected to arrive soon, Dr. Suokhrie said.

Fuel prices hiked

DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (NPN): State-owned oil marketing companies hiked petrol price by 40 paise per litre and diesel by 45 paise. After Wednesday’s rate revision, petrol price in Dimapur rose to Rs.78.86 per litre from Rs.78.47 per litre recorded on Tuesday while diesel price was increased from Rs. 69.78 per litre to Rs. 70.18 per litre. In Kohima, price of petrol on Wednesday stood at Rs.79.71 per litre while diesel was retailing at Rs.70.65 per litre.

This is it!

“This is gross intrusion. Even the caller tune is about Coronavirus. It’s everywhere.” K Y M C

Security personnel keep vigil at the Fancy Bazar, which was sealed as a COVID-19 containment zone after detection of some cases, in Guwahati. (File)

ernment was contemplating enforcing a seven-day strict containment in the area, besides collecting samples. He remarked that with Wednesday’s development, the city witnessed 13 cases in the city, and all the individuals had no travel history. “We have found a link of all the cases to Pan Bazaar area, besides Bishnupur and Fatasil Ambari areas where godowns are located. Hence, if these areas can be isolated, then I think the

virus chain could be broken. But Guwahati’s infection is a cause of concern,” the minister acknowledged. While the localities of Pan Bazaar area have already been declared containment zones, Bishnupur and Fatasil Ambari areas would be declared containment zones, he added. According to the Health Ministry, a containment zone refers to a specific geographical area where positive cases of coronavirus

are found. Strict movement restrictions are put in place in such areas to prevent further spread of the virus. The perimeters of the containment zone are decided based on the number of positive cases in the area, contact tracing history and population density. The Rapid Response Team(RRT) demarcates the area of 3-kilometre radius around the epicentre (the residence of the positive case or where he has been isolated) in case

WHO rethinks on ‘asymptomatic’ cases NEW DELHI, JUN 10 (AGENCIES): In a flipflop, the World Health Organisation (WHO) first said that transmission of Covid-19 from asymptomatic carriers is “very rare”, and then organised a live session on social media to clarify that “modelling studies have put the extent of asymptomatic transmission to about 40%”. Maria Van Kerkhove, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist and Covid-19 Technical Lead at WHO, first said on Monday: “We have a number of reports coming from countries who are doing very detailed contact tracing. They are following asymptomatic cases, they are following contacts and they are not finding secondary transmission onwards. It is very rare. Much of that is not published in the literature.” On Tuesday, after an uproar in the media and the public, she clarified

during the special session that while 6-41% of Covid infected people may not show symptoms, many of them may transmit the disease. “There have been two-three studies that followed asymptomatic cases over time and looked at all contacts and came to the conclusion that there was no spread but that is a very small subset of studies. In trying to articulate what we know, I used the words ‘very rare’ and there was a misunderstanding… what I didn’t report yesterday because this is a major unknown is that there are some modelling studies that estimate that 40% transmission may be due to asymptomatic models. It is a modelling study so I didn’t include in my answer yesterday,” she said. A study from China published in Nature Medicine on April 15 estimated that 44% cases had caught

the disease from an asymptomatic person. “We obser ved the highest viral load in throat swabs at the time of symptom onset, and inferred that infectiousness peaked on or before symptom onset… Disease control measures should be adjusted to account for probable substantial presymptomatic transmission,” reported the researchers who included those from Guangzhou Medical University and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, at the University of Hong Kong. Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director at WHO, also clarified on Tuesday that WHO welcomes discussion if “people think we are straying from evidence. We were misinterpreted, perhaps because we didn’t use the most elegant words.” (Cont’d on p-8)

contact listing and mapping takes more than 24 hours. This area of 3 km radius is the containment zone. The perimeter around a containment zone will restrict outward movement of people except for essential services(including medical emergencies). Thermal screening will be carried out at all entry and exit points of containment zones. Also vehicular movement including public transport will be restricted. All roads to containment zones shall be barricaded and manned by police personnel and only those with passes will be permitted to move in or out. The minister’s assertion of community transmission holds severe implications for rest of the North-eastern States for, Assam’s capital serves as a gateway to the region and people from other States flock here for a variety of reasons – from jobs, to education, for medical reasons, trade-related activities or even to catch flights and trains to other parts of the country. Currently, Assam can treat 4,232 Covid-19 patients at one time. Around 957 isolation beds and 500 ICUs are available for the same.

APC clarifies on food quality at QC DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (NPN): After video footage of inmates lodged at quarantine centre, New DC Office Complex, Chumukedima, complaining about poor quality of rice went viral on social media, the Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) and Dimapur in-charge for COVID-19 activities, Y Kikheto Sema, Wednesday said that the food committee was directed to visit the quarantine centre and verify the issue. Accordingly, APC said the committee interacted with the inmates and was “found that the quality of rice needed improvement.” Sema said the committee has already conveyed the same to the caterer, who agreed to improve the rice quality. Appreciating and welcoming all views and opinions, the Team Dimapur has requested all responsible to bring any lapses to the notice of (Cont’d on p-8)

Nagaland COVID-19 STATUS as of 10th June 2020

COVID HOSPITAL Dimapur DH AR Hospital Dimapur Kiphire DH Kohima NHAK Kohima Chedema Longleng DH Mokokchung IMDH Mon DH Peren CHC Jalukie Phek DH Tuensang DH Wokha DH Zunheboto DH State Total

AsympRecovtomatic ered cases 77 4 0 5 11 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 99

8+11 0 0 4 2* 0 0 0 0 0 4* 0 0 29

Symptomatic cases Critical TOTAL Mild Moderate Severe ICU (without ICU (with ICU (OnCASES Oxygen) Oxygen) Ventilator) 0 0 0 0 0 0 96 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 128

*2 recovered are in Chedema, 4 recovered in Tuensang DH and 4 in NHAK 11 recovered from Dimapur District Hospital, tested negative through TrueNat

99 active, 29 recovery cases Correspondent/Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR/KOHIMA, JUN 10 (NPN): Nagaland on Wednesday registered a total of 29 COVID-19 recovery cases as 19 more recovered from the deadly virus, while the state reported just one positive case for coronavirus from Kohima quarantine centre on Wednesday. Earlier during the day (till 3 p.m.), the state’s total recovery case was 22-Dimapur-12, Kohima-6 and Tuensang-4. However, in a late night development, it

was informed that Dimapur registered another 7 negative cases by TrueNat machine, taking the tally to 19. Based on the latest SOP, a doctor at DHD informed that the second testing by TrueNat was carried out after 14 days of the first sample collection. As on June 10, the state’s updated tally for COVID-19 cases stood at 128-- 99 active and 29 recovered cases. According a DIPR report, two COVID-19 positive cases (husband and wife) who were kept at an isolation unit at Dimapur COVID-19 hospital, were shifted to Naga Hospital Authority Kohima Wednesday

MTLT serves 45-day ultimatum on PHED DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (NPN): Mokokchung Town Lanur Telongjem (MTLT) has served a 45-day ultimatum on the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Mokokchung division to take immediate necessary actions to ensure supply of regular drinking water at Mokokchung town. In an ultimatum addressed to the executive engineer PHED Mokokchung division, the MTLT president Imkummeren Jamir, General Secretary Lanu Pongen and MTLT Grievances Cell Convener Aolong Imchen said that citizens of Mokokchung town have been suffering due to scarcity of potable drinking water for the past many years. Over the years, the MTLT said it has raised the issue with the department and also other competent

authorities on several occasions, but its concerns and queries have been met with excuses after excuses. MTLT stated that there were many families in different colonies, who have PHED water pipe connection, were compelled to buy water even during the monsoon season. According to MTLT, there were about 2500 families in the town, who were aggrieved because of nonsupply of water by the department. If the department cannot supply water even to those 2500 families having pipelines, the MTLT questioned whether the department could supply water to other families who were yet to have a pipe connection. “Most ironically, the families are charged the regular maintenance fees every month,” MTLT said.

evening by ambulance on humanitarian grounds as the couple were asymptomatic and were found fit to travel. The wife, a cancer patient, was shifted to NHAK since the hospital has a cancer unit and her primary problem had to be urgently attended to, DIPR stated. Meanwhile, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) principal director Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie acknowledged that despite numerous challenges, the services of the health workers led to speedy recovery of the patients, who were mostly asymptomatic while some showed mild symptoms. (Cont’d on p-8)

Longleng dist admin appeals for peace in border

DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (NPN): Following reports of Assam police removing bamboo barricade erected at Yonglok along the Nagaland-Assam border as part of COVID-19 preventive measures, the Longleng district administration and the police Wednesday held a meeting with Phom People’s Council (PPC), Phom Students’ Conference (PSC) and Phomla Hoichen in the conference hall deputy commissioner (DC) Longleng. According to an official bulletin, the DC Longleng, M Shayung Phom, and superintendent of police (SP) Longleng, Yanithung Ezung, appealed to the NGOs, civil society groups and the public to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border (Cont’d on p-8) areas. (Cont’d on p-8)

Religious places allowed to open in state with riders India’s COVID-19 tally nears 2.8L DIMAPUR, JUN 10 (NPN): State government has allowed opening of religious places/places of worship in the state with immediate effect subject to adherence to certain conditions/provisions. In an order, the state chief secretary J Alam stated that only those religious places/places of worship outside containment zones would be allowed to open up. The government has advised person above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant woman and children below the age of 10 years to stay at home. The organisations managing the religious institutions are to advise accordingly, the order added. State government also listed generic preventive measures including simple public health measures, which are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

The measures that need to be observed by all (workers and visitors) in those places at all times include: social distancing of at least six feet with face covers/ masks mandatory and hand washing and use of sanitizers wherever feasible. The total number shall not be more than 30% of the capacity of the building/space. Religious places shall be open for worship between 5 am to 5pm only. Entrance to have mandatory sanitizer dispense and thermal screening provisions. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed in and all are to enter only using face cover/masks. Staggering of visitors to be done, if possible. Shoes and footwear should be taken off inside own vehicles and kept in separate slots for individual/family. Proper crowd man-

agement in parking lots and outside premises by adhering to social distancing norms Shops, stalls, cafeteria outside and within the premises shall follow social distancing norms at all times. Specific markings with sufficient space to manage queue and ensure social distancing in the premises. Separate entry exits shall be organised. Maintain physical distancing of six feet while queuing up for entry. Washing of hands and feet before entry. Seating arrangement to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained. Air conditioning shall be put at ranges of 40˚to 70˚ and intake of fresh air as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate. Touching of statues, books etc not allowed and large gathering will remain prohibited.

Avoid physical contact while greeting each other. As far as possible, recorded devotional music be played and choir singing not allowed. Common prayer mates to be avoided and all to bring their own prayer mats to be taken back. No physical offering like Prasad or sprinkling of holy water allowed inside. Community kitchens should follow social distancing while distributing food. Effective sanitation within premises to be ensured especially in lavatories, washing places. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting of the place especially floors for multiple times. Proper disposal of face covers, masks, gloves etc. In case of a suspect or confirmed case in the premises, the person is to be isolated, face mask provide and examined by a doctor.

NEW DELHI, JUN 10 (PTI): Nationwide COVID19 tally neared 2.8 lakh Wednesday with almost one-third of the total cases (Cont’d on p-8) getting detected in just 10

days of June. In its morning 8 AM update, the Union Health Ministry said the number of active cases in the country has risen to 1,33,632, while

the total number of people having recovered has now risen to 1,35,205. The Ministry’s update showed nearly 10,000 new cases in 24 hours since Tuesday 8 AM, taking the country’s cumulative caseload to over 2,76,583, while the death toll rose by 279 to reach 7,745. This showed a recovery of nearly 49 per cent among the people who have tested positive so far. Nearly 50 lakh tests have been conducted across the country. However, a PTI tally of figures announced by different states and union territories, as of 9.25 PM, showed that the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 2,77,286, while the death toll has mounted to 8,099. It also showed total recoveries at over 1.4 lakh. The Johns Hopkins University data, as of 9.40 PM, showed India’s confirmed cases at over 2.8 lakh. K Y M C


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