Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXX No. 101
DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 Pages 12 ` 5.00
‘Jinnah marg’ poster appears in JNU
Euro 2020 postponed until 2021
WHO calls for actions to combat virus
national, Page 7
sports, Page 12
international, Page 9
Covid-19: Govt reviews preparedness States along Intl borders asked to deploy doctors 24/7, provide kits
with states bordering Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. During the video conferencing, Centre was also briefed that regular screenings were being done by
Action against spread of fake messages Males may be more
doctors at various transit points and those living in border areas have been sensitized about precautionary measures to be taken to avoid getting infected by IANS Adds: As new the virus. cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) rise in the country, with 137 people testing positive for the virus The Mumbai patient and three deaths, the mediwith a travel history to cal community is observDubai is the first COVID- ing the growing trends as 19 death in Maharashtra, it prepares to combat any which has the most number eventuality. of coronavirus cases at 39, Director of All India officials said. Institute of Medical SciencThe Maharashtra pa- es (AIIMS) Delhi, Randeep tient, whose wife also tested Guleria told IANS that from positive and is stable, was the data that the medical in a private hospital for community has studied so five days and subsequently far it appears males are more referred to Mumbai’s Kas- prone to get the infection turba Hospital, officials rather than females. said. He reportedly did not “It is a new strain of disclose his travel history the coronavirus. You will not when he was admitted to the get it from your pet, you will private hospital. not pass it to your pet. It has Maharashtra Health mutated to infect humans. Minister Rajesh Tope said And immunity against this the exact cause behind his particular strain of the virus death is being ascertained is not found in humans. as he was also suffering from “One interesting trend is also various ailments. it has occurred more in men The 137 positive cases, compared to women,” said 23 more since Monday night, Guleria, as a study in Wuhan have been reported from 15 also revealed that the virus states and union territories. might be affecting people The number includes 24 with A type blood. (Cont’d on p-8) foreign nationals.
vulnerable to COVID19: AIIMS director
Spl. Correspondent/Agencies
India reports 3rd COVID-19 death; 137 cases
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, MAR 17 (NPN/PTI): Centre on Tuesday asked states, including Nagaland, along the International borders to ensure round the clock deployment of doctors with requisite testing kits and other medical supplies, so that hundred percent screening was done without fail. This was conveyed by Union Home secretary Ajay Bhalla during a video conference with chief secretaries/addl. chief secretaries and DGPs/additional DGs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, besides secretary border management and DGs of BSF, SSB and Assam Rifles. Bhalla was reviewing the level of preparedness to contain Coronavirus threat,
India on Tuesday reported its third coronavirus fatality with a 63-year-old dying in Mumbai, Health Ministry officials said as the number of positive cases rose sharply to 137 and more parts of the country shut down to stem the spread of infection. The government, which on Monday banned entry of passengers from EU countries, Turkey and the UK from March 18 till March 31, also closed its doors to those from Afghanistan, the Philippines and Malaysia with immediate effect. Unheard of till just a few days ago, ‘social distancing’ was the buzz-term as public spaces, including monuments such as the Taj Mahal, shut down and many thousands of people prepared to spend the next few days confined to home, working or studying online.
Postpone university exams, ENCSU appeals
KSC provides 15 litres of hand sanitizer to NHAK
DIMAPUR, MAR 17 (NPN): Concerned over the deadly coronavirus threat, Eastern Nagaland College Students Union’ (ENCSU) urged the state government and university authority to postpone the university exam in state or arrange suitable date at the earliest if postponement was not possible. (Cont’d on p-8)
NSCN (I-M) cancels events DIMAPUR, MAR 17 (NPN): Affirming solidarity with WHO declaration of COVID-19 as pandemic, the NSCN (I-M) Tuesday decided not to celebrate “Republic Day” and also postponed “Budget Session” indefinitely as preventive measures. NSCN (I-M) has also decided to postpone “Naga Freedom Fighters Widow’s Welfare Federation” silver jubilee celebration. Besides, it has also decided not to hold interview or press conference.
KSC principal and faculty after handing over hand sanitizers to NHAK officials.
DIMAPUR, MAR 17 (NPN): Taking note of spread of fake messages/ r umours amid COVID19 concerns, the Dimapur district administration has cautioned that any person found creating/sharing unauthenticated message/ rumours would be booked and action would be initiated as per appropriate sections of law. The district administration, which held meeting with Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and wholesalers in the district, also informed that there was no shortage of essential commodities in the market. The general public has, therefore, been advised not to resort to panic buying. Further, the district administration has strictly prohibited sale/butchering meat in undesignated locations. In a press release, the deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur Anoop Khinchi cautioned that defaulters would be booked as per relevant section of the law. Further, all authorised butchers have been directed to only sell meat in proper hygienic conditions.
Cops to be trained on screening travellers Correspondent/Staff Reporter
KOHIMA/DIMAPUR, MAR 17 (NPN): Following a report in Nagaland Post that train passengers were not being screened for coronavirus (COVID-19) at Dimapur station, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department convened a meeting of Special Action Group here Tuesday. Nodal officer for COVID-19 Dr Nyan Kikon informed this correspondent that a meeting was also held with the police to step up screening at all entry and exit points of road and railways. He said training of police personnel on COVID-19 too would begin within the next two days. Mentioning that police personnel on duty would be provided thermal scanners, Kikon said modalities for the purpose were being worked out. He claimed that the district team was in constant touch with the railway authority, adding continuous announcements were being made through public address system urging passengers to report to the railway medical authority, if anyone of them was sick, after which the patient would be referred to the district surveillance team.
Passengers at Dimapur railway station on Tuesday. (NP)
Japanese asked to go back: Against the backdrop of Konyak Union’s decision to ban all tourist from entering Mon district, two Japanese tourists were reportedly denied entry into Mon on March 17. According to reports, the two Japanese tourists, on their way to Mon, were forced to return during checking by Konyak Union (Tizit) and Tizit Area Students Union. It may be mentioned that several village organizations have also issued similar directives restricting entry of tourist. The state government on March 16 also banned all tourist entry (foreign and domestic) into the state with effect from March 18, 2020 till further orders. Over 300 foreign tourist visited state since January: Over 300 foreign tour-
ists from US, Europe and South East Asian countries have visited Nagaland from January 1, 2010 till March 16, 2020 by train and air. According to data available with Nagaland Post, 177 registered tourists visited the state in January, 144 in the month of February and 62 in March (till March 16). Though the data shows only those people who had travelled by air or train to the state, there were no record of tourists who had travelled into the state by road. Control room for COVID-19: H&FW department has set up a control room at chief medical officer office Dimapur. The control room would be operational from March 18, 2020 (9am to 4pm). One can contact 7630877991 and 7630877983.
WSH urges govt to defer NISHTHA training DIMAPUR, MAR 17 (NPN): Expressing concern over the ongoing teachers’ training (NISHTHA) across the state where thousands of teachers were participating, the Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) has urged the state authorities to urge the Centre, particularly the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), to halt the ongoing training immediately “before a major catastrophe takes place here in our state.” WSH through its media cell maintained that with COVID-19 sweeping across the world, such mass gatherings and huge number of people assembling was “not wise and inviting a serious disaster.” The hoho asserted that many teachers, who were also parents of young ones in their homes, were “forced to attend this NISHTA training”. “When restrictions on movements and various social engagements are advised to be suspended, it is a wonder how this NISHTHA training is still going on full swing,” WSH stated. It said that such exercises were important, but the lives and health were a top priority. “Without both, all these exercises will be meaningless,” WSH stated. The hoho said that if any of those teachers were infected then the risk of infecting their children and other students also becomes more severe. Meanwhile, WSH has appreciated the state government for the timely action in closing down all educational institutions as a preventive measure.
DIMAPUR, MAR 17 (NPN): With shortage of hand sanitizers in the market, students and faculty of Kohima Science College (KSC), Jotsoma have prepared hand sanitizers, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) specifications. Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima managing director, Dr. Thorhusie Katiry informed that a team of Kohima Science College faculty, led by the principal, contributed 15 litres of hand sanitizer prepared by the college. Expressing deep appreciation for the thoughtful action on the part of the college to make available the much-needed sanitizer in this hour of crisis in the light the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Katiry Pay bills online: Power dept of urged the college to continue its noble D I M A P U R , M A R 1 7 initiative and said he looked forward to its (NPN): In view of COVID cooperation in the times to come. 19 pandemic and as a precautionary measure, Power department has informed consumers covered under R-APDRP (Dimapur, The Health & Family Chumukedima, Kohima, D I M A P U R , M A R 1 7 Wokha, Mokokchung, Mon, (NPN): School Education Welfare department would Tuensang, Zunheboto, Phek) department has directed all provide necessary skills and to take advantage of online schools to strictly follow the IEC materials in this regard, payment available on www. order issued by the home it added. department on Monday The schools conducting dopn.gov.in to close all educational in- the scheduled examinations stitutions in the State till (CBSE/ICSE) have been diApril 12. rected to ensure physical disIn a notification issued tance of one metre amongst on Tuesday by principal students while making sitsecretary Menukhol John, ting arrangements. the School Education deFurther, the schools partment however advised have been instructed to enall schools to keep their courage use of e-learning offices open so as to enable by students and teachers by dissemination of necessary using online apps/tutorials, information to students discussion/learning through from time to time. effective use of social media All teachers of both like WhatsApp, etc. during government and private this period. schools have also been diAnd to compensate for rected to be in their respec- the loss of working days, the tive places of work and department said it would be “He seems to know more engage in awareness ac- taking measures like declarabout coronavirus than tivities on COVID-l9 in their ing Saturdays as working we doctors.” respective localities. days, cutting down summer
Schools asked to comply with closure notice
This is it!
K Y M C
and winter holidays, which would be notified in due course of time. While asking teachers to make lesson plans and prepare strategies to manage their classes during this period to that they could efficiently manage their classes when the schools reopen, the department advised the students to keep up their reading habits and study textbooks Parents and guardians have been advised to keep their wards within safe environment of their houses by avoiding large gatherings and public places to the extent possible. Students should also be taught on proper personal hygiene and social hygiene like hand washing, etc, by the parents and guardians, the notification added. K Y M C