April 25, 2020

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Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 138

DIMAPUR, SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020 Pages 6 (Online Edition)

COVID-19 outbreak under control: Govt

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NATIONAL, PAGE 3

State govt initiates austerity measure DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): As a measure of austerity in view of the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government has directed that there would be pro-rata cuts of 15% under ‘non- development’ from the budget estimates (BE) of 2020-21 in respect of all departments for the following expenditure items: travel expenses; office expenses; motor vehicles; and maintenance. According to an official bulletin, the details of demand-wise cuts on the listed items would be issued separately.

Farmers urged to carry out activities

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): The State government has appealed to all farmers to carry out various farm activities and asked everyone concerned to take necessary steps so that farm activities could be carried out without any impediments.

Wholesale medical shops to open on alternate days

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): The deputy commissioner Dimapur, Anoop Kinchi has stated that the wholesale medical shops along GS Road, MP Road and Sosino Market have been permitted to open on alternate days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with effect from April 25, 2020. In an order, DC said that only retailer shops with permit/passes issued by the Nagaland Medical Dealers Association along with NOC from CMO, Dimapur-- following strict medical protocol prescribed for the containment zone-will be allowed to procure medicine/medical equipment from the wholesale shops. DC further asked all to strictly follow all precautionary and safety measures. DC said that assistant drug controller will be monitoring all the activities NDMA refutes false claims: Nagaland Medical Dealers Association has refuted the claims on social media that NDMA had called for a bandh and also rejected the claims of “lack of communication between Police officials and personnel on duty�. NDMA president A. Ato Yepthomi clarified that medicine dealers of NL Road area had converged to wait for Police to receive the order and open Sosino Market area (medical market). NMDA has appealed to all concerned not to spread false propaganda. It also warned of taking legal action against those who had spread wrong message in the name of NDMA.

This is it!

“Strangely, I don’t like to imagine what life will be after lockdown. Life’s so good. No work, free food etc.� K Y M C

Trump for phased reopening of economy

nagalandpostofďŹ cial nagalandpostofďŹ cial

INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 6

Supervise scientiďŹ c disposal of Controversy over COVID-19 patient COVID-19 waste: Green Tribunal

Spl. Correspondent

GUWAHATI, APR 24 (NPN): Several reports on the status of a patient from Dimapur (Nagaland) who was referred to Guwahati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) on April 11 and then tested COVID-19 positive on April 12, have added a twist to the case due to contradictory claims. E a r l i e r, r u m o u r s claimed that the patient was actually tested negative for COVID-19 at the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital. Later it went viral on social media and followed up by a section of the media, which reported that the patient was tested negative for COVID-19 in the second test. In order to confirm facts from GMCH, Nagaland Post contacted a senior official at the hospital and published a report on April 22. The GMCH official had also confirmed to Nagaland Post, that the patient was tested positive for COVID-19 on April 12 and again tested positive in the second test done within seven days. GMCH official also informed that the third test was due on Day 14 (or

sometime by the last week of April). The newspaper also reported that the patient who was in critical condition had shown marked improvement and was shifted out of the ICU into the isolation ward of the hospital. The matter, however, took another turn on April 23, when the secretary health and family welfare, speaking on behalf of the department, told media at a briefing that the patient had been tested for positive for COVID-19 three times. The secretary said while the first test was positive, the second was negative and third again positive. The secretary had also informed that the fourth test was due in a few days. Following the contradictions, Nagaland Post again contacted GMCH authorities on Friday for a factual status of the patient. GMCH source reaffirmed information based on which this newspaper had based its report and also adding that the third test was yet to be done. When asked to respond to the claims made by the Secretary H&FW of Nagaland, the GMCH

authorities said they would prefer not to react as they were not privy to the claims made by the Nagaland government official. “They (Nagaland health officials) perhaps misinterpreted our report, but I would not like to comment on that. The patient is now recovering well and we will carry out the third test on him on Day 14,� a senior GMCH official remarked. Besides the controversy over his medical status vis-a-vis COVID-19, the patient from Dimapur has not been listed under either Assam or Nagaland and thus excluded from both the lists. Assam maintains that the status of the patient referred from Dimapur and tested positive in GMCH, should be included under Nagaland. According to a health worker, a student or employee from another state and working in a permanent job in Assam and who is tested positive for COVID-19 can be included under the state. On the other hand, the Nagaland government was disinclined to include the patient’s case under the state on the ground that the

testing for COVID-19 was done in Guwahati. Meanwhile, a report by The New Indian Express said that Assam’s figures updated by the state’s Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Twitter did not include the case from Nagaland. Sarma told journalists, “I stand by my tweets,� reported TNIE. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio told this newspaper on Friday, “I cannot comment if it is the responsibility of Assam to count him. I don’t take the blame either (for not counting it as Nagaland’s case).� He agreed that the case referred but said the man was referred from Nagaland as a patient and not as a COVID-19 positive. So, those medical terms will come into effect, he said. “We are checking up with Assam. Since he was found positive in Guwahati, it is proper to record him as he is undergoing treatment there. If he is shifted to Nagaland, we have to keep that record with us. We will see in what manner it will go after he is discharged from the hospital,� Rio added.

NEW DELHI, APR 24 (PTI): The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Friday directed a team, comprising the Centre and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), to supervise handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines. The tribunal said that while the Bio Medical Waste Rules deal with waste generated in dealing with infectious diseases, the coronavirus pandemic has presented further challenge in terms of capacity to scientifically dispose of generated waste. A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the chief secretary of states and union territories to closely monitor the scientific storage, transport, handling, management and disposal of COVID-19 waste as its improper handling poses a grave threat to the environment and health of people. “At the national level, let a high level task team of Ministry of Environment, Health, Urban Development, Jal Shakti, Defence

Health ofďŹ cials in COVID-19 protection kit removing waste materials from the isolation wards of Ernakulam Medical College. (TNIE File)

and CPCB supervise the handling and scientific disposal of COVID-19 waste in accordance with the guidelines,� the bench said. It also directed the state departments of environment and pollution control boards to ensure compliance of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and furnish action take report to CPCB. “Let CPCB take further steps and furnish a consolidated report to the NGT of the steps taken and the ground status as on May 3, 2020. The report may be furnished by June 15,� it said. Disposal of COVID-19 waste in general bins so as to

be part of municipal waste or unscientific handling sewage and other liquid waste without safeguards can also be hazardous, the tribunal said. There is also need for creating awareness about the precautions and steps to be taken by all handlers and workers as well as citizens, the tribunal added. The green panel had on Tuesday urged the State Pollution Control Board and Pollution Control Committee to put in serious efforts to mitigate the possible risk of unscientific disposal of the bio-medical waste arising out of the handling of the COVID-19 disease.

Probe into data leak No objection to burials of COVIDFraudulent registrations for ďŹ nancial aid will be punished: CS underway, says Govt 19 victims at Naga Cemetery: NCD

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 24 (NPN): State chief secretary Temjen Toy has expressed dismay over complaints of some Naga youths who took advantage of the relief/financial aid extended to Nagas stranded outside the state and warned that action will be initiated against any found involved in such practices. Speaking to Nagaland Post, Toy took strong exception to the action of those who have taken advantage of the state government’s good intention to extend financial help to Nagas stranded outside the state by fraudulently registering themselves with the CS dashboard- iamstranded. nagaland.gov.in. Toy said there may be people in the state who were applying for the financial help even though

they are not stranded but in Nagaland. He reiterated “This is not a freebee� and asked people to understand that the financial help was meant only for those people who are stranded outside and in need of help. Toy also informed that he had already directed the DGP to trace out such people through Geo tracking and that those involved be brought to book and penalised for committing an offence. He said it was unfortunate that, even pregnant women had started applying for financial assistance under its programme meant only for a specific purpose. He also lamented that such a behaviour was indeed a blot to the society. He reiterated that the government is determined to crack the whip on those who have committed fraud by initiating legal action.

Two held: Nagaland police Friday reportedly detained two persons for fraudulent registration in financial aid extended to citizens of Nagaland stranded outside the state. It may be mentioned that the state government recently announced a special package under which citizens of Nagaland stranded outside the state could avail financial assistance by registering in the “iamstranded. nagaland.gov.in� web portal. According to Nagaland police PRO, the duo had fraudulently registered in the web portal to avail the financial aid meant only for Nagas stranded outside the state. Upon a complaint received from the principal director school education, the two accused were summoned to Cyber Crime police station and later released on personal bond.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 24 (NPN): Following the report of breach of personal details of Nagaland citizens stranded outside the state, the chief secretary Temjen Toy Friday said that the state government has traced the person involved in leaking the data. Speaking to Nagaland Post, the chief secretary said the source of leaking the data was traced to outside the state. Toy said that some of stranded Nagas had shared the data through social media by mistake and not with a mala fide intent. The chief secretary, however, said that the investigation was underway. Department of information technology and communication and home also confirmed to Nagaland Post that the data was not leaked from their source, but from the stranded citizens outside the state. NPCC concerned over data breach: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has expressed serious concern over what it described as “major security breach of data� relating to citizens of Nagaland stranded outside the state. NPCC through its communication department demanded that the state government take cognisance of the data breach and take action to restore “some semblance of order�, which it said had been missing in government’s approach in dealing with pandemic (Cont’d on p-3) situation.

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): In a u-turn, Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) on Friday informed that the council would have no objection to bury the bodies of COVID19 patients at Naga Cemetery although there was very limited space at the cemetery. The decision comes following a meeting between state government officials and representatives of NCD at Hotel Saramati here, NCD general secretary Thsapongkyu Sangtam stated in a press note. On April 17, the council, in conformity with government guidelines/orders and in view of the concerns raised by residents of Lake View colony, for containing the spread of COVID-19, issued several guidelines for burial. The next day, NCD president Bangerloba Ao in an interview with Nagaland Post also pointed the concerns raised by residents around the cemetery in case of burial of COVID-19 victims. Bangerloba said NCD had requested state government to be prepared to identify an alternate

burial site in case of any victims of COVID-19. However, on April 24, NCD said that the communication gap caused by earlier statement of NCD stood resolved. Both the sides agreed to strictly adhere to the guidelines on dead body management issued by the Health ministry. It was also agreed that the Dimapur district administration and medical department would jointly create awareness among the people regarding burial and its guidelines. NCD agreed to fully support and cooperate with government authorities. The meeting was attended by APC & secretary and head of Special Committee, COVID19 Dimapur Y Kikheto Sema, commissioner of police Rothihu Tetseo, DC Dimapur Anoop Khinchi, DMC administrator Albert Ezung, NCD representatives. Meanwhile, NCD hoped and prayed that there would not be a single death due to COVID-19 pandemic.

India’s Covid-19 cases jump by 1752, highest ever single-day spike Major landslides block NH-2 recorded 1,752 fresh cases taking the total number of infected people to 23,452 even as doubling rate of the disease improved to 10 days .BIBSBTIUSB from 7.5 reported earlier this week, according to the (VKBSBU Health Ministry. At a daily media brief -CTPCVCMC %FMIJ ing, Director of National -GTCNC ,COOW CPF -CUJOKT Centre for Disease Control 2WPLCD 3BKBTUIBO SK Singh said around 9.45 *CT[CPC lakh suspected coronavirus $KJCT .BEIZB 1SBEFTI cases have been under sur1FKUJC ,JCTMJCPF veillance and their samples 7VVCTCMJCPF are being collected upon 5BNJM /BEV *KOCEJCN 2TCFGUJ detection of symptoms of #UUCO the infection. %JJCVVKUICTJ 6UUBS 1SBEFTI %JCPFKICTJ Union Health Minis #PFCOCP CPF 0KEQDCT try had put the nationwide 5FMFOHBOB .CFCMJ tally of confirmed cases /GIJCNC[C at 23,452 along with 723 )QC "OEISB 1SBEFTI deaths. According to the 2WFWEJGTT[ /CPKRWT ministry, the number of ac 6TKRWTC 8FTU #FOHBM tive COVID-19 cases stood #TWPCEJCN 2TCFGUJ at 17,915 as 4,813 people /K\QTCO have recovered and one 4PVSDF 1*# .JOJTUSZ PG )FBMUI BOE 'BNJMZ 8FMGBSF CU QP #RT CV 2/ (3"1)*$4 patient has migrated. NEW DELHI, APR 24 in coronavirus infection on According to a PTI (PTI): In the biggest spike a single day, India on Friday tally of figures announced

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by various states and union territories, as on 9.30pm, the number of confirmed cases has reached 24,356

with at least 778 deaths, while 5,170 patients have recovered and have been discharged.

Nagaland: Results of 33 awaited STATUS REPORT AS ON APRIL 24, 2020 NORTH EAST

Nagaland Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Arunachal Pradesh Tripura

CONFIRMED Nil 36 2 12 1 1 2

RECOVERED Nil 19 2 Nil Nil 1 1

DEATH Nil 1 Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil

DIMAPUR, APR 24 (NPN): State principal secretary Home Abhijit Sinha has informed that 613 samples had been sent for testing from the State till 3 p.m. on Friday. Of these, results of 580 samples were negative, while results of 33 samples are awaited. Altogether 1,519 persons were screened throughout the State and 112 persons are under facility quarantine, he added.. Meanwhile, in connection with the COVID-19 positive case of Dimapur, the surveillance team in the containment zone in Dimapur have covered 5,667 persons from 1,005 households as on Friday. Altogether, 733 primary and secondary contacts connected to the positive case had also been traced and are being tracked.

An excavator clearing the debris along NH-2

Cracks appear along the highway (NH 702-D).

places on National Highway 2 (NH 2), completely MOKOKCHUNG, APR 24 blocking the highway even (NPN): Incessant rains since as massive cracks reportedly the past few days caused occurred on NH 702-D. (Cont’d on p-3) massive landslides at two Correspondent

K Y M C


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