Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXII No. 13
DIMAPUR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 Pages 12 ` 5.00
ISL: Stewart hat-trick scripts Jamshedpur win
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SPORTS, PAGE 12
Omicron spreading at unprecedented rate: WHO
GENEVA/NEW DELHI, DEC 14 (AGENCIES): The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that the new coronavirus variant Omicron was spreading at an unprecedented rate and was likely already present in most countries around the world. “Seventy-seven countries have now reported cases of Omicron, and the reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding that “Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant.” Tedros said the WHO is worried that countries are dismissing omicron as a mild variant. Though omicron is more contagious, it is not yet clear whether the variant causes more mild or severe disease than past strains of the virus. “We have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril,” Tedros said. “Even if omi-
WHO expects increase in number of deaths, hospitalisations from Covid variant Omicron cron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,” he said. Tedros warned that vaccines alone will not protect the nations of the world from omicron, emphasizing the importance of masks and social distancing. “It’s not vaccines instead of masks. It’s not vaccines instead of distancing. It’s not vaccines instead of ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well,” Tedros said. WHO also said that it expects an increase in the
number of hospitalisations and fatalities related to the new Omicron coronavirus strain, reported Sputnik. “A s c a s e nu m b e r s linked to a variant of concern increase globally, we expect the number of hospitalized cases and even deaths to be reported,” the WHO said in a statement. Meanwhile, several countries are considering ramping up the rollout of booster shots after early studies show the Omicron variant can still impact double-vaccinated people, though it is too early to fully understand how severe the impacts might be.
ENPO declares non-cooperation with SFs till demands fulfilled DIMAPUR, DEC 14 (NPN): Against the backdrop of 14 innocent civilians massacred by the Indian security force in Mon district on December 4 and 5, 2021, the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), which held a joint consultative meeting with all the Eastern Nagaland civil societies at Longleng town on December 14, 2021, has unanimously resolved not to extend cooperation to the Indian security forces until its demands were fulfilled and justice delivered to the families of victims in particular and Nagas in general. According to ENPO media cell, non-cooperation would be in the following
forms: abstain from any National celebrations, or such activities; non-participation in Army civic programmes; non-attendance to any of their official invitations and disallow any recruitment drive within Eastern Nagaland area. The joint consultative meeting also demanded that Indian security force personnel involved in the killings should be booked under relevant law and be brought under Civil Court for trial. Further, the meeting demanded withdrawal of Union Home Minister’s statement in the Parliament that the security forces fired in self-defence. The joint consultative
meeting also demanded revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 from the entire North Eastern States. Meanwhile, the meeting resolved to hold public rally in all the tribal headquarters on December 16, 2021 in protest against the brutal murder of innocent public and injuring several others and demand justice for the same. The meeting also resolved to write to the state government to immediately set up the Nagaland State Human Rights Commission (NSHRC). Further, it was resolved to declare December 4 and 5 as “Black-Day” in the entire ENPO jurisdiction.
Our vaccines may become ineffective in emerging situations, says VK Paul
PTI: Amid concerns over Omicron, India's COVID Task Force chief VK Paul on Tuesday said there is a potential scenario that “our vaccines may become ineffective in emerging situations” and emphasised the need to be ready to modify the vaccines as per requirement. He also hoped that COVID in India is possibly moving in the direction of endemicity, where there is a low or moderate level of transmission going on. “We have experienced Delta shock and now the Omicron shock... there is a potential scenario that our vaccines may become ineffective in emerging situations in the wake of the last three weeks of living with Omicron, we have seen how such doubts have come up, some of them may be genuine, we still don't have the final picture,” he said. Speaking at an event organised by CII, Paul also emphasised the need for having vaccine platforms that are adaptable quickly with the changing nature of the variants.
India’s Omicron cases rise to 61
Delhi has reported four more cases of Omicron while eight more persons have tested positive for the COVID-19 variant in Maharashtra on Tuesday, taking the tally in the country to 61. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said all the six people who have so far tested positive for the Omicron variant had a history of travelling abroad. So far, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 28, followed by Rajasthan at 17, Karnataka3, Gujarat-4, Kerala-1, Andhra Pradesh-1, Delhi- 6 and Chandigarh- 1.
State Covid death toll touches 800; 3 fresh cases DIMAPUR, DEC 14 (NPN): Nagaland on Tuesday reached 800 Coronavirus-related deaths (including 16 non-Covid deaths but with positivity). Following the death of one more patient in Mokokchung, the death toll soared to 800, health department stated. Further, the state also recorded three fresh Covid-19 positive cases-- two in Kohima and one in Dimapur, taking the total caseload to 32161. PTI adds: India logged 5,784 new Covid infections, taking the tally to 3,47,03,644 while the death toll shot up to 4,75,888 with 252 more fatalities
UK and India are natural partners: UK PM Boris INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9
Nagaland extends state-wide lockdown measures till Jan 15 DIMAPUR, DEC 14 (NPN): The State government announced extension of the existing lockdown measures and relaxations (Unlock-8) beyond December 15 and up to January 15, 2022. According to a notification issued by principal secretary (home) Abhijit Sinha, everyone has been advised to strictly adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviours like compulsory wearing of mask, maintaining social distancing, regular handwashing with soap and water or sanitiser, avoiding crowded spaces and close contact settings, etc, in view of the festive season and especially in the backdrop of detection of Omicron, a new Covid variant. Reminding that vaccination was the most crucial and important tool in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic in addition to Covid-appropriate behaviours, Sinha said that anyone not yet vaccinated has been
strongly advised to get the vaccination at the earliest. There are teams from the Health & Family Welfare Department going from door to door as part of “Har Ghar Dastak” campaign, everyone needs to avail this opportunity to get himself/ herself vaccinated without any delay whatsoever. Alternately, eligible beneficiaries may also get vaccinated at the nearest health facility. Those who have taken the first dose and is due for second dose should also get the second dose and complete the vaccination schedule, the notification emphasised. Sinha clarified that any kind of public gathering that has been allowed beyond 50% and up to 100% capacity was subject to all the participants being fully vaccinated or should have taken a single dose and at least 15 days should have passed since taking the first dose. He advised everyone to take note of these conditions and ensure
that there was no participant who was unvaccinated in any public gathering. Mentioning that drivers, attendants and passenger in passenger vehicles carrying more than 50% and up to 100% capacity were subject to similar vaccination conditions, the notification ruled that if none of the vaccination criteria were fulfilled, then the drivers, attendants and passengers should carry a Covid-19 negative report for test not done earlier than 72 hours from the date of travel. District Task Forces (DTF) have been advised to form teams to inspect any public gathering in their jurisdictions and check if the participants were complying with the vaccination/testing conditions, and adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviours. Immediate action should be taken against the organizers and participants , if found violating the directive, the notification specified. (Cont’d on p-8)
Oppn members meet to discuss strategy; hold protest march NEW DELHI, DEC 14 (AGENCIES): Top leaders of opposition parties, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, DMK's T R Baalu and National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, gathered at the residence of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to discuss a strategy to question the government in the ongoing Parliament session. The meeting comes at a time when the government and the opposition are locked a battle over the status of 12 Rajya Sabha members who have been suspended over their “unruly” behaviour in the House during the previous session. While the government has said the members should apologise, opposition parties have claimed that
Members of the opposition parties during the protest march in Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)
the ruling establishment has been shunning debate. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK MP TR Baalu, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge were present at the meeting, according to re-
ports. Sonia Gandhi had invited Uddhav Thackeray and DMK chief MK Stalin. Both deputed their leaders--Raut and Baalu-- respectively, PTI said. The Trinamool Congress was not invited to the meeting. Protest march: Earlier in the day, opposition MPs
in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha held a protest march from the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to Vijay Chowk with Rahul Gandhi alleging that the Opposition is not being allowed to raise issues in Parliament, which is now merely a building and a museum.
WPI inflation hits new Pangnyu reviews Kohima i-Drone pilot project launched for vax delivery in Mokokchung high of 14.23 pc in Nov
Correspondent
MOKOKCHUNG, DEC 14 (NPN): To deliver COVID-19 vaccines to remote areas and strengthen the vaccine delivery system, the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Drone Response and Outreach in North East (i-Drone) pilot project was launched for the two districts of Nagaland-- Mokokchung and Tuensang-- on Tuesday by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with state health
This is it!
"I don't know whether this hullabaloo politics is a ruse to quietly pay bills." K Y M C
Children gather around the drone that delivered vaccine. (ICMR Twitter)
and family welfare (H&FW) department. The pilot project was launched for studying the feasibility of drone technology in delivery of medical supplies to the remote places, where travel accessibilities was challenging in
times of urgency. The demo flight, carrying covid-19 vaccines from the office of chief medical officer (CMO) Mokokchung to PHC Longsa village with an arial distance of 11.5km was accomplished in just 8 minutes.
By road, it normally takes more than one hour to cover a distance of almost 30 km from Mokokchung town to Longsa village. The project was jointly flagged off by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mokokchung Limawabang Jamir and Superintendent of police (SP) Mokokchung Aotula Imchen. Earlier, short speeches were delivered by DC Mokokchung, SP Mokokchung and deputy CMO Dr. Aonungdok Tushi Ao. Vision and perspective
of i-DRONE was shared by secretary DHR & DG, ICMR-Hq, New Delhi, Prof. Balram Bhargava, through video conferencing. Prof. Bhargava also shared his pleasantries towards the initial achievements of the pilot project. Despite the effective and safe vaccine administration in the States and Union Territories, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said vaccine delivery among tough and hard-to-reach terrains of India was still challenging. (Cont’d on p-8)
NEW DELHI, DEC 14 (PTI): The wholesale pricebased inflation surged to a record high of 14.23 per cent in November, mainly due to hardening of prices of mineral oils, basic metals, crude petroleum and natural gas. Wholesale Price-based Index (WPI) inflation (Base Year: 2011-12) has remained in double digits for eight consecutive months beginning April. In October this year, WPI was at 12.54 per cent while in November 2020, it was at 2.29 per cent. (Read more on p-8)
Season-9: Dimapur Night Carnival commences Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, DEC 14 (NPN): The five-day ‘Dimapur Night Carnival Season-9’ commenced at Supermarket here on Tuesday. Before commencement of the carnival, the gathering paid tributes to Oting victims and held a one-minute silent prayer. Jointly organised by Dimapur district administration, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry and East Dimapur Business Association, and co-sponsored by Musik-A and Life Audio,
Visitors at the ongoing Night Carnival and (inset) Rajesh Soundararajan speaking at the inaugural programme.(NP)
the carnival’s the first day was themed “First Night Tribute to Oting”. Over 150 stalls were
set up on the first day where ethnic cuisine, local products and accessories were exhibited and sold.
Speaking at the inaugural function, deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur Rajesh Soundararajan lauded the organisers for putting up the event despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic. He recalled that the pandemic had thrown life out of gear but, fortunately things have improved, he added.. Thanking the organisers for providing a platform to young entrepreneurs and citizens, DC encouraged he public to grab the opportunity and be part of the event.
He said the carnival was a good platform for budding entrepreneurs to promote business and culture. E a r l i e r, w e l c o m e speech was delivered by DCCI vice-president V Shikuto Sema wherein he exhorted the youth to showcase their talents, which was the main aim of the event, he claimed. Invocation prayer was proposed by King Jesus Family Church pastor Rev D James Ngullie, The five-day carnival will conclude on December 18.
medical college works
Pangnyu during the consultative meeting with consultants and contractors on Tuesday in Kohima. (Via Twitter)
DIMAPUR, DEC 14 (NPN): After the Centre urged the state government to expedite the construction works of the medical colleges in Kohima and Mon, the State health and family welfare (H&FW) minister S Pangnyu Phom, held a consultative meeting with consultants and contractors working at medical college, Kohima at H&FW, secretariat on Tuesday. Taking to twitter, Pangnyu said that matters regarding delay in work progress were discussed. He said that the contractors have assured to execute the work faster by increasing manpower. Minister also said that the contractor assured to hand over the buildings to the health department on time. “As this
institution is our dream, I am putting all effort to make this a reality at the earliest for our future generation,” Pangnyu tweeted. On December 3 last, union minister of state for health and family welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, in a written reply to an unstarred questioned raised by Lok Sabha MP Tokheho Yepthomi in the Parliament, had said the Centre had already released Rs.170.10 crore (Central share 90% phase-I) for Kohima medical and Rs. 242.50 crore out of Rs. 292.50 crore (Central share phase-III) till date. MP had sought for details of the progress of medical college in Mon district and also the completion time of Kohima Medical College. K Y M C