April 27, 2020

Nagaland Post

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Vol XXX No. 140

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020 Pages 6 (Online Edition)

Not worth my time: Trump on briefings

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PM to interact with CMs today Modi to discuss way out of lockdown, COVID-19 ďŹ ght

expected to speak during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s video-conference with chief ministers tomorrow, reports NDTV. The chief ministers are also likely to discuss the responses to the partial relaxations granted on April 20 to certain sectors, the situation regarding test kits and the protection of doctors.

The states are also expected to demand a financial package from the Centre, and an amendment to the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act. The latter is expected to list the cap on fiscal deficit, which is likely to increase as vast sums of money will be needed for relief and stimulus for the global pandemic.

This time, it is the turn of the chief ministers from Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Puducherry. From the northeast, the chief ministers of Meghalaya and Mizoram will speak.

Sources said the Centre wishes to give all states -- large or small -- a chance to speak.

‘80% Covid-19 cases in Maha asymptomatic’

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280 govt labs conducting COVID19 tests: ICMR NEW DELHI, APR 26 (IANS): Indian Council of Medical Research on Sunday said that a total of 280 operational government laboratories in the country are conducting tests for Covid19 and reporting to it.

Out of the 280 labs, 233 are conducting Real Time-PCR, while 41 will do TrueNat tests, and the remaining six the CBNAAT tests. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have the highest number of government labs to test for the viral disease.

Delhi’s AIIMS, the Lady Hardinge Medical College, the National Centre for Disease Control, the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, the Army Hospital Research and Referral, the Maulana Azad Medical College, and the Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital are conducting them.

Besides this, ICMR also released a list of 90 private labs which will conduct the testing. Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana will have the maximum number of laboratories.

NATIONAL, PAGE 3

NE tames COVID-19, but vigilant over threats from across borders AGARTALA/IMPHAL/ AIZAWL, APR 26 (IANS): Even as four of the eight northeastern states are free from novel coronavirus and its spread tamed in other four states, authorities have kept a tight vigil on India’s borders in the region as threat of the disease spilling over from Bangladesh and Myanmar looms large.

Eight nor theaster n states share India’s around 5,500 km borders with five countries, including China (1,300 km), but the region’s main worry lies over 1,880 km borders with Bangladesh and 1,643 km with Myanmar.

Northeastern states’ fear has deepened after Bangladesh reported more than 140 coronavirus death and over 5,000 infections.

Tripura director general of police Rajiv Singh said that while Border Security Force (BSF) further strengthened their vigil along the India-Bangladesh border, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) were deployed all along the 856 km border with Bangladesh in the state.

After Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar

Deb’s appeal, villagers along the international borders have been watchful to prevent anyone’s illegal entry from across the border into the Indian territory,� the police chief told IANS. He said that special round-the-clock focus is on around 62 km unfenced border and where human habitations are just along the zero line of the frontier.

Deb said that most of Tripura’s border is with Bangladesh and the government is concerned about this.

Deb, who also holds the home portfolio, urged the people to observe the “Janata curfew’ to foil any bid to cross over into Tripura from Bangladesh.

In Aizawl, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga has asked the Assam Rifles and BSF officials to further tighten security along Indian border with Myanmar and Bangladesh in his state.

In Imphal, Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has stressed on the highest vigil along the state’s 398 km unfenced IndiaMyanmar border areas and has directed director general of police LM Khaute and

Assam Rifles officials to reinforce checkpoints at various areas, particularly in the Churachandpur district.

Manipur government’s fresh directives to the Assam Rifles to strengthen security along the border areas came after media reports of 127 positive cases surfaced in Myanmar.

In Shillong, Meghalaya home minister Lahkmen Rymbui held a series of meetings with BSF officials to further intensify border security along India’s 443 km border with Bangladesh in the state.

While no positive novel coronavirus case was reported from Sikkim, the other seven northeastern states have so far reported 55 coronavirus positive cases, including Nagaland’s lone case.

Of the 55 positive cases, there are 20 active cases at present in the northeastern region -- seven in Assam, 11 in Meghalaya and one in Mizoram, besides a trader from Dimapur in Nagaland undergoing treatment at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital since April 12.

NEW DELHI, APR 26 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers via video conference on Monday morning on the way ahead in the fight against the novel coronavirus, amid indications that the discussions could also focus on a graded exit from the ongoing lockdown.

This will be the third video conference of the prime minister with the chief ministers after the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.

Sources in the government indicated that besides discussing the way forward in dealing with the pandemic, the discussion could also focus on a “graded� exit from the lockdown which is in place till May 3.

The Centre and the state governments have been giving gradual relaxation in various fields and sectors to boost economic activities as also to provide relief to people. But some states are

willing to extend the lockdown beyond May 3 to ensure that coronavirus cases remain under control.

In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address on Sunday, the prime minister said the country is in the middle of a ‘yudh’ (war) and asserted that people have to continue being careful and take precautions. His note of caution comes against the backdrop of the Union government and states relaxing lockdown norms to revive economic activities. “I urge you not to get overconfident. You should in your over-enthusiasm not think that if the coronavirus has not yet reached your city, village, street or office, it is not going to reach now.

Never make such a mistake.

The experience of the world tells us a lot in this regard,� he said. Modi referred to a popular Hindi idiom ‘Sawdhani hati, durghatna ghati’ (accident happens when caution is lowered) to make his point. The Centre has

Security forces apprehend NSCN cadres

IAF ies 2nd batch of BSL equipment Over 26000 COVID-19 cases in India; death toll 826

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): Security forces apprehended at least four NSCN cadres-- two NSCN (I-M) and two Yung Aungled NSCN (K) cadres, in separate incidents in Assam and Nagaland.

According to PIB (Defence Wing), one Raju Bramo of the NSCN (I-M) was apprehended near Lalpahara in Tinsukia district on April 24 along with a .22 pistol, four live ammunition.

In another operation, a senior cadre of NSCN (I-M) identified as Nyaoba Konyak @ Nweypa was apprehended near Titabor under Jorhat district on April 23 while trying to escape a check post. Two US-made Beretta pistols with two magazines were seized. The cadre was actively involved in planning and conduct of extortion and kidnapping activities in upper Assam, it added.

In another joint operation, Army and Assam Rifles team apprehended two NSCN (K) cadres of the Yung Aung faction near Yoching under Mon district on April 25. One ‘sgt.’ Kabato Sema and ‘sgt.’ Lokivi Sema were apprehended along with one .32mm pistol, 10 live rounds and Rs 25000 in cash.

This is it!

“The youths have no complaints here. Only thing they want is 4G network to watch movies.�

K Y M C

Narendra Modi

now allowed neighbourhood and standalone shops, including those located in residential complexes, in urban areas to open during the lockdown. But those in the markets continue to remain shut till May 3.

In rural areas, all shops, except those in shopping malls, are allowed to open.

In a late night order on Friday, the Home Ministry also said malls continue to remain shut but markets in rural areas can open.

However, opening of shops located in COVID-19 hotspot and containment zones, sale of non-essential items by e-commerce platforms and sale of liquor continue to be prohibited.

9 CMs likely to speak with PM: At least nine chief ministers -- mostly from east and northeastern India --are

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DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): Second consignment for Bio-Safety Laboratories (BSL), along with technicians, reached Nagaland by Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster.

The consignment, for both BSL-3 at NHAK Kohima and BSL-2 at Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR) Referral Hospital, was received by district medical officials and CIHSR authorities.

“With this, work for setting-up the second biosafety laboratory at Referral Hospital Dimapur will also start immediately,�

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted on Sunday.

Meanwhile, with work on setting up the State’s first Bio Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) in full swing, officials informed that the lab

was expected to be ready by second week of May. Meanwhile, Health minister S. Pangnyu Phom in a tweet also informed that the “equipment for BSL-2 to be set up at Referral Hospital, Dimapur along with some additional instruments for BSL-3� reached Nagaland. “We ensure the latest achievement will immensely benefit our people in the long run,� he tweeted.

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NEW DELHI/ATLANTA, APR 26 (PTI/AP): The countrywide death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 826 with 47 more fatali-

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ties being reported and the number of cases climbed to 26,917 on Sunday, according to the Union Health Ministry. A total of 5,914

people(21.96 per cent) have recovered from the infection, it said. The total number of cases on Sunday went up by 1,975 since the ministry last updated its data on Saturday evening.

Global death toll tops 200,000: As the global death toll from the coronavirus

rose to 202,000, countries took cautious steps toward easing lockdowns imposed amid the pandemic, but fears of a surge in infections made even some outbreakwounded businesses reluctant to reopen. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher.

Nagaland: 613 samples test negative STATUS REPORT AS ON APRIL 26, 2020 NORTH EAST

Nagaland Assam Manipur Meghalaya Mizoram Arunachal Pradesh Tripura

CONFIRMED RECOVERED Nil 36 2 12 1 1 2

Nil 19 2 Nil Nil 1 2

DEATH Nil 1 Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): State principal secretary Home, Abhijit Sinha informed that all 613 samples sent for testing from the State till 3 p.m. as on April 26, 2020 have reported to be negative.

Meanwhile, 5,667 persons covering 1,005 households have been interviewed in connection with the COVID-19 patient of Dimapur, who tested positive at Guwahati. And all 427 samples sent for tests in connection with the positive case have reported to be negative, Sinha stated.

Rain, thundershowers to affect most parts of India: IMD Limited commercial activities allowed in Dmu NEW DELHI, APR 26 (AGENCIES): Thunderstorms are brewing over northwest India, east and northeast India, including Gangetic West Bengal, and across peninsular India including coastal areas, suggesting an extension of this week’s spell of rain in an unusually wet April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall and hailstorms are expected in Odisha, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during the next couple of days. Heavy rainfall over parts of Kerala and Mahe is likely for the next 4 to 5 days. “In East, North East and peninsular India we are seeing some severe thunderstorm activity. It is normal during the premonsoon season. There is a lot of moisture incursion

from Bay of Bengal over the east and northeast. It’s the kalbaisakhi Norwesters] season. Occasionally, some very intense activity can be there like a hailstorm or squall,� said K Sathi Devi, head, national weather forecasting centre. “In northwest India, the reasons are different.

There is influence of a westerly disturbance here and moisture incursion from both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. In Rajasthan where there is less moisture, there may be dust storms,� she added.

A low-pressure area is also forming over the south Andaman Sea, which will result in rough seas and thundershowers around Andaman and Nicobar and the Sumatra coast starting April 30, IMD said.

A western disturbance that started affecting parts

of north India on Saturday evening and easterly moisture-laden winds are causing overcast skies, some thundershowers and moderate winds in most parts of northwest India including the National Capital Region (NCR) centred on Delhi. “There is intense activity in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Dust storms, hail storms and thundershowers are likely in these places. An orange alert has been issued so that authorities remain alert. In Delhi-NCR, light rain has been recorded in many parts. Similar conditions will continue till Monday,� said Kuldeep Shrivastava, head, of the regional weather forecasting centre. “Due to establishment of an east-west trough and wind convergence along Indo-Gangetic plains and

accompanied moisture incursion from both Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in lower levels, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity is very likely to continue over parts of east and northeast India during next two days with peak activity over Odisha, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal on Sunday,� the bulletin said.

According to various numerical weather prediction models of the IMD, a low pressure area is likely to form over the south Andaman Sea around April 30. It is likely to become more marked over the same region.

Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea along and off the north Sumatra coast, Andaman Sea and adjoining areas of southeast and east central Bay of Bengal from April 30 to May 3.

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): A day after the state chief secretary issued an order permitting several commercial activities in the state, DC Dimapur Anoop Kinchi has also permitted several activities in the district with immediate effect.

Shops for truck repairs along the highway with stipulated minimum distance.

All shops including those in residential and market complexes except shops at multi-brand and single brand malls, outside the limits of municipalities and town councils with 50% strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory.

All shops including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes within municipal limits and town except shops in market complex and multi-brand and

single brand malls with 50% strength of workers with wearing of mask and social distancing being mandatory.

(Shops to open only from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

However, all shops in New Market, Hong Kong Market, Hazi Park, MP Road, Railway bazaar and vegetable market in Purana Bazar shall remain closed.

All weekly bazaar would continue to remain closed.

At Nyamo Lotha Road (Church Road), only medical shops (whole sale and retailer) would be permitted to open.

Containment zone (Marwaripatti, Murgipatti and GS Road) would continue to remain sealed.

Wholesale market of essential commodities would continue to operate from designated godowns.

Further, wholesale vegetable market would continue to operate from

Supermarket area.

The wholesale medical market would continue to operate from Sosino Market, MP Road, GS Road and Nyamo Lotha Road (Church Road).

All Public transportation including autorickshaw, cabs services would also remain prohibited.

Salons, dine-in restaurants, eateries and departmental stores shall continue to remain closed. However, home deliveries from dinein restaurants food outlets and delivery of online order of essential commodities would be permitted.

Proprietors of the shops and establishments, which were allowed to open, would make arrangements for keeping hand sanitizer or providing facilities for hand washing with soap and water for the public as well as for their own staff workers.

(Cont’d on p-3) K Y M C

state

2

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020

State continues to carry out preventive measures for safety of public

DIMAPUR: Nagaland continues to keep strict vigil to combat COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the state by adopting various preventive measures. Legislators, high ranking and district officials have been constantly sending out directives, appeals, visitations, meetings and trainings to ensure that public are abiding with the guidelines. Fogging and other sanitising activities are conducted regularly by concerned agencies to discourage possible spread of the virus. Some businesses have been relaxed as per the requirements for public welfare. Charitable donations for the less fortunate continue to be given by government and private agencies in collaboration with respective district administrations. Frontline workers like administration, doctors, police, media, sanitation and others continue to carry out their duties during these trying times. Problems that are being faced by different sections of people are also being highlighted to the government through media outlets. Government is taking note of these and rigorously working towards alleviating the sufferings of the general public.

wokha

Kiphire

Back row (L to R) Mmhonlumo Kikon, Mhathung Yanthan, Y. Patton and Dr. Chumben along with others on April 25. (DIPR)

Legislators visit Ralan area of Wokha district: Legislators from Wokha district led by deputy chief minister of Home, Roads and Bridges, Y. Patton who is also in charge of COVID-19 for Wokha district visited Ralan area to check the preparedness level and held interaction with the public on April 25.

According to DIPR report, their visit was to take firsthand information with regard to COVID-19 pandemic crisis as Ralan area in the lower range share close border with Assam state. Ralan area Lotha Hoho, chairman, Samuel Ovung while apprising about the preventive measures undertaken by the area people on COVID19 pandemic stated that the real challenge was health care facilities and man power to manage the crisis. He requested the legislators to post medical officer at PHC Ralan, still lying vacant and additional security man power to curb frequent use of cross

border activities undertaken by substance abusers and peddlers.

Y. Patton assured that he along with his colleagues will pursue the grievances at higher level. He also handed cash amount of Rupees one lakh twenty thousand (Rs. 1, 20,000/-) to chief medical officer, Wokha for maintenance of four ambulances, for smooth accessibility during during emergency situation. Patton was accompanied by advisor, Horticulture & Border Affairs, Mhathung Yanthan, advisor, Higher Technical & IT, Science & Technology, New & Renewable Energy, Mmhonlumo Kikon, Dr. Chumben Murry MLA, jt. secretary Border Affairs L. Jamithung Lotha, DIG (Border) Videlalie Zashumo, Sr. SP (Border) James Mhonbemo Humtsoe, DC & chairman District Task Force Wokha, Orenthung Lotha, CMO Dr. W. Tungoe and DDMA Wokha unit Mercy Kithan.

Leaders visit hailstorm affected villages in Pungro area: Public leaders from various organizations and individuals have reached out to hailstorm affected families in Pungro sub-division which occurred on April 21.

A press release informed that, heavy hailstones with strong winds damaged houses and standing crops and fruits at several villages under Pungro sub-division of Kiphire district including, Salomi, Moya, Pinkim, Kongsa town, Old Vongti, New Vongti, Pungro village, Pungro town and Kiuro. Former president Public Forum Pungro Sub-Division (PFPSD) S. Kiusumew Yimchunger along with GBs, PFPSD and leaders from various organizations paid a visit to the affected villages on April 25 and donated some cash. Kiusumew, earnestly requested upon the state government and civil society organizations to extend help in terms of monetary, material and prayer support towards the affected families.

Kiusumew further encouraged upon the affected families not to lose heart but to have faith and also lauded the Village Guards (VGs) for their unceasing call of duty to protect its citizens.

longleng

ADC & administrator LTC informs: ADC & administrator Longleng Town Council (LTC) has issued an order and permitted the following activities with immediate effect in Longleng district from 8 a.m to 12 noon: Shops for truck repairing along the highways with stipulated minimum distancing; All shops including shops in residential and market complex with mandatory wearing of masks; All shops including neighbourhood shops and stand alone shops with mandatory wearing of masks; It is reiterated that saloons and dine-in restaurants, eateries and hotels shall continue to remain closed. However

kohima

home deliveries from dine-in restaurant, outlets and delivery of online orders of essential commodities shall be permitted; The proprietors of all shops and establishments allowed to open will make arrangements for keeping hand sanitizer or provide hand washing with soaps. Further, the proprietors and establishments should clean and disinfect the handle, surface and other objects frequently touched by people regularly.

However, as specified in the lockdown measures, national COVID-19 directives and standard operating procedures, protocols for social distancing must be strictly followed by all.

dimapur

Deputy CMO Kohima, Dr. Hoito Sema giving detailed presentation during the training. (DIPR)

Medical and Police team on duty at Zunheboto district check point.

Medical and Police team keep vigil: Despite heavy rainfall and inclement weather condition for the past few days, the Zunheboto Medical and Police team perform their duty to safeguard the people and also maintain lockdown protocol in the district.

A press release from COVID-India media reporter, Bombo K Yeptho stated that, teams at the check points of the district are keeping a check 24x7 on all the vehicles entering the district and getting their details to be submitted to the district COVID19 control room. In town area, other teams are deployed along with volunteers to strictly monitor the maintenance of social distancing while purchasing essential commodities and in queue at the ATM or

other necessary places. Frequent fogging, disinfectant drive and sanitization of the district is being carried out.

DC Zunheboto revises shop timings: Deputy commissioner (DC) Zunheboto sent out a notification informing all concerned with immediate effect until further order: All the shops selling essential commodities will be allowed to open on all working days of the week from 7 a.m to 12 noon; Shop keepers are to wear masks during business hours compulsorily; All shoppers will wear masks and maintain social distancing at all times; Transportation of pigs from Assam or other districts is totally banned till further notice with immediate effect.

tuensang Meeting with church leaders: District administration Tuensang held a meeting with the executive secretaries of the churches of four tribes of Tuensang in connection with COVID19 at the office chamber of DC Tuensang on April 24, chaired by DC, Kumar Ramnikant. According to DIPR report, DC expressed his appreciation to the CBLT for taking initiative to sensitize and disseminate information on COVID-19 by visiting 42 Chang villages.

He urged that other executive secretaries replicate the same within their respective jurisprudence and also supplement government efforts while disseminating information. He also stressed that awareness team must intensify awareness efforts by clearing the myths and imparting basic knowledge to every member of the village.

DC encouraged the SHG/NGOs to stitch reusable mask for the villages as a measure to control the spread of the disease through improper disposal of single-use masks. Meeting

mon

discussed how to create on interactive team of people in every village as a knowledge pool and in order to address doubts of people regarding COVID-19 pandemic. DC also stated the inter-district movement after lockdown period will result inward movement of people to the villages, whereby awareness must be given to avoid any social stigma associated with COVID-19 against the people entering the villages.

He also highlighted the recent ordinance approved by the centre for protection of healthcare workers under which rigorous fine and imprisonment will be imposed for violence and harassment against healthcare workers.

To ensure that no peer group farming is allowed, farmers are to strictly adhere to social/physical distancing norms, he added. He advised villagers to be sensitized on the SOP for corpse management of COVID-19 dead body as per WHO and ministry of Health and Family welfare, no stigmatization or discrimination should happen in any village with regard to COVID-19 death.

WASU opposes entry and exit in Wakching area: Wakching Area Students' Union (WASU) has resolved to oppose the entry and exit of any person in Wakching area at an emergency meeting held on April 26.

A press release from WASU president Chinge M Konyak and general secretary, Chingmei Nokwang stated that, meeting was held with all village council chairmen of Wakching area. WASU stated that, all persons intending to travel to and from Wakching area will not be allowed, in context with the present situation created by COVID19 pandemic. House also resolved to abstain from transporting stranded people from within and outside the state and asked them to remain at their respective place(s). House also acknowledged the tireless efforts and contributions of the respective federating units of WASU, Police personnel, administration, VGs, village councils, Medical team, NG0s, churches and volunteers in fighting against COVID-19.

Training for SDRF and NDRF personnel: Personnel of SDRF and NDRF were given one day training on how to effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in Kohima on April 25

by the office of the chief medical officer (CMO) Kohima. According to DIPR report, the training included a detailed presentation on three important topics namely introduction

nagalandpost.com Poll

Phek Battalion clears road blockade Financial assistance, donations and relief ration

Q.: How long should the lockdown last?

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

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to COVID-19, Kohima district containment plan and personal protective measures. Deputy CMO Kohima, Dr. Hoito Sema was the resource person at the training.

DC Dimapur convenes DTF meeting: Deputy commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi has convened a meeting of District Task Force (DTF) on April 27, 1 p.m at DC’s conference hall to discuss matters relating to COVID-19 pandemic in Dimapur district. All the concerned members of DTF Dimapur have been requested to attend the meeting.

DBSU informs stranded Bengali students outside Nagaland: Dimapur Bengali Students’ Union (DBSU) has informed that any Bengali students of Nagaland stranded outside Nagaland due to lockdown and need help or willing to return back to Nagaland after the lockdown is over, may contact the officials of DBSU or can contact at 9436626311, 8416097132, 8794403074, Email: dimapurbengalistudentsunion@gmail.com.

A press release from DBSU president Raja Debnath and general secretary, Deep Debnath stated that, district administrator has also set up office and control room in Commissioner’s Rest House, Bank Colony, Dimapur. Students can directly contact at 03862-227005, Email: cegdimapur@ gmail.com. Union further directed all its units representatives to prepare list in respective areas and try to reach out to the maximum. DBSU also appealed to civil societies and NGOs of Bengali community to take initiative and work unitedly to finalize the names of the stranded students.

zunheboto

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For another 3 36% months.

Ti l l M a y 3 , 54% 2020.

8% Can’t say.

Next poll

Q: Are nations spending too

much for military and too little for medical research?

 Yes.  No.  Cant Say.

Assam Rifles excavator clearing the blockade along Kanjang-Akhen road.

DIMAPUR: Phek Battalion of Assam Rifles assisted civil administration in clearing off blockade along Kanjang-Akhen road on April 25. According to PRO HQ IGAR (N) heavy and incessant rainfall had caused landslides in numerous stretches be-

tween Kanjang and Akhen villages of Phek district. PRO stated that, the road being the only lifeline used by residents from the two villages required to be cleared urgently to enable move of essential supplies to the villages.

WEATHER FORECAST april 27

(Temperature in ºC)

Max Min

Agartala Showers and a heavier t-storm 28 21 Aizawl

Showers and a heavier t-storm 20 15

Guwahati A t-storm around in the p.m.

28 19

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

21 15

Itanagar A t-storm around in the a.m.

27 18

Imphal Shillong

A p.m. t-storm in spots

19 13

Kohima

An afternoon thunderstorm

20 13

Dimapur Cloudy with a stray t-storm

28 19

A strong afternoon t-storm

23 14

Mkg

Tuensang Cloudy; a t-storm in spots Wokha

Cloudy

Zunheboto Cloudy; a t-storm in spots

K Y M C

15 10 23 17 20 13

Block wise training for Sechü and Kohima sadar administrative officers/ police, NYK and NDRF volunteers for COVID-19 duty under Kohima district with Dr. Rupert (Right) as resource person was held at DB’s Court, DC office Kohima on April 24. (DIPR)

DLSAs provide assistance & relief: In compliance to the directives of the executive chairman, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority to reach out to persons (students/individuals) from Manipur state stranded in various districts in Nagaland, Kohima DLSA panel lawyers identified 16 persons in Kohima district.

A press release from NSLSA public relations assistant stated that, the details and assistance needed by 3 persons were identified and the same was appraised to the deputy commissioner. Two persons contacted by Kohima DLSA were found to be stranded in Zunheboto and were in need of financial assistance/essential commodities.

In Dimapur, out of 88 individuals stranded, phone calls were made to all the individuals and 21 persons informed about their need for assistance. A list containing the names, contact number, address and assistance needed was prepared.

Secretary of Dimapur DLSA, Somet C Chang along with the project assistant and retainer lawyer approached the deputy commissioner for assistance. Wokha DLSA identified and delivered relief materials to genuine needy beneficiaries on April 24, donated by secretary Khrievono Seletsu JMFC/ WDLSA along with panel lawyers and para legal volunteers. It contributed cash and served refreshment to duty personnel, medical team, volunteers on April 13. Kohima DLSA through the assistance from JMFC Kohima Julian Sitlhou, upon receipt of information from the superintendent, Observation Home, Wokha and Wokha DLSA that a family from Wokha district had been stranded at Khuzama Government Hospital, Kohima due to lockdown and were struggling for shelter, essential commodities, assisted in acquiring car pass (extra ordinary) and provided essential commodities and other

necessary assistance. In another instance, a para legal volunteer under Chiephobozou sub division legal services clinic Keduolhoukho Chadi in collaboration with Common Service Center (CSC) Chiephobozou town assisted in helping the residents of the village through banking services (cardless cash withdrawal of Rs. 500/- up to Rs. 5,000/-) per person/per day by using Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) for any bank account.

The service is said to be available from 9:30 a.m till 2 p.m (Monday to Friday).

Phek DLSA in collaboration with district administration helped in disinfection and sanitation drives on vehicle plying from the other district at Chetheba town Phek.

Phek DLSA officials along with deputy commissioner, superintendent of Police, public prosecutor undertook visits to COVID-19 Hospital.

BWS Dimapur: Bodo Welfare Society (BWS) Dimapur distributed food grains and other essential items to 550 needy families at 6th Mile, 5th Mile, 4th Mile, Darogapathar, Naharbari, Padumpukhri, Purana Bazar, Burma Camp, Walford, Half Nagarjan, Bank Colony, Lotha Colony and Signal Angami areas. A press release from BWS president Kirankumar Basumatary and general secretary Bileswar Khaklary expressed gratitude towards donors and well-wishers for their generosity.

Food grains distributed AAY and BHH beneficiaries: Free distribution of food grains to AAY and BHH beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kakyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was launched at Longleng on April 25, jointly organised by the department of Food & Civil Supplies, Longleng in collaboration with district administration. According to DIPR report, in Mokokchung, DC Limawabang Jamir launched the PMGKAY to ration

card holders at Mokokchung village on April 25. The same was launched at Peren and Jalukie towns on April 25.

NDPP women organization Peren: NDPP women organization of Peren distributed relief commodities to daily wage earners, widows and destitute at Jalukie town on April 25. According to DIPR report, the organization will continue to serve humanity in times of crisis.

NMSO relief distribution: Nagaland Meetei Students' Organisation (NMSO) COVID-19 relief distribution team reached out to Meetei stranded students in Dimapur with essential ration commodities on April 26. A press release from NMSO advisor Prem Thongbam stated that, stranded students totalled 263 and were in various colonies, namely Phom Colony, Purana Bazar, Burmacamp, Manipuri Basti, Westyard Colony, Kevijau Colony, Metha Colony, PWD Colony, Y. Zhimo Colony, Signal Angami, Naga Gaon, Sachu Colony. Distribution was carried out under the guidance of colony representatives and which was received from the Dimapur district administration.

DBS: Dimapur Bengali Samaj (DBS) distributed essential relief materials to needy people on April 25. A press release from DBS president K. K. Paul stated that, distribution was carried out at Y. Zhimo Colony, Dimapur. At least 40 families of daily wage earners were benefitted.

8th Western Angami A/C: Er. Kevisekho Kruse, ex-candidate and CEC member of NDPP and family donated rice to all the villages and colonies under 8th Western Angami A/C. A press release from NDPP 8th Western Angami A/C president Vitsalhou Kesiezie and general secretary, Ravolhuto Whiso lauded the charitable works rendered by Kruse.

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Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020

‘80% Covid-19 cases in Maha asymptomatic’ moment. “It is not like the coronavirus is suddenly going away. There is no proof of herd immunity. We have to keep the high risk group safe,” he said.

“You have to wear masks. We cannot create crowds. You should exercise at home. If you see symptoms please go to a fever clinic. Do not ignore symptoms and selfmedicate,” he added.

State officials have said that if the state does relax its current stringent lockdown measures, it would be in rural areas and least affected areas of the state. “However, we are looking at the scenario as rural and urban areas are connected,” an official said.

State Health Minister Rajesh Tope had on Saturday said the number of COVID-19 cases in the state is not coming down.

“The state is yet to reach a stage where the number of coronavirus cases would stabilise. Till then, we cannot take the risk of allowing people to gather at public places in large numbers, Tope said.

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national/state

Limited commercial activities...

(From p-1) They have also been asked to get the door handles, surfaces and other objects frequently touched by people to be regularly cleaned and disinfected. However, as specified in the lock down measures, National COVID19 directive and standard operating procedure protocol for social distancing must be ensured.

DC cautioned that any person violating the order would be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC.

Wuhan’s L-strain may be behind Gujarat’s high death rate: Experts AHMEDABAD, APR 26 (PTI): The high COVID-19 mortality rate in Gujarat could be due to the dominance of the L-type strain of coronavirus, found to have been more prevalent in Wuhan in China, where the outbreak started, experts said.

The dominance of the more virulent L-type coronavirus strain as compared to the S-type one could be behind the high mortality rate in the state, which has reported 133 deaths so far.

However, no research has been conducted to confirm this, they said. A scientist at the state-run Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) said that the novel coronavirus used for genome sequencing recently conducted by it was found to contain the L-type strain.

“Analysis done by scientists abroad has shown that the L-type strain has been dominant where more mortality is reported among coronavirus patients. This strain was found to be more prevalent in Wuhan,” director of GBRC, C G Joshi, said. “ T h e c o r o n av i r u s sample we collected from a patient for genome sequence

MUMBAI, APR 26 (AGENCIES): Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said “80 per cent patients of coronavirus were asymptomatic” in his state, which at over 7,600 has the highest number of infections in the country, reports News 18.com .

The high figure increases the possibility of a silent spread of the virus and emphasises on the need for more testing as more and more people become carriers, who can potentially spread the virus further without showing any symptoms. In Rajasthan, which has over 2,100 confirmed cases, also about 80 per cent patients have been asymptomatic, according to health officials.

Thackeray said the state has succeeded in slowing down the spread of coronavirus due to the lockdown and he will review the situation before taking any decision on giving relaxations.

A large chunk of the cases in the state are currently restricted to major

cities like Mumbai and Pune, according to official data, and a lockdown extension could be restricted to such urban centres, officials have told News18.

Addressing the state live through various social media platforms, the chief minister said his state will take a decision on extending the lockdown by the end of this month.

“We will take a call on what to do after the 30th,” Thackeray said. For now, he said, “We are restarting some things. I am going to study it (the plan) this evening. We have to see how we return to normalcy slowly”.

He asked the people to have patience, saying there is “no other choice” at the

Minority panel demands release of Jamaat members

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Around 300 terrorists waiting in PoK for intrusion calls for ‘swadeshi’ to combat corona

New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI): The Delhi Minorities Commission has demanded that Tablighi Jamaat members who are kept at quarantine camps in the city and have not tested positive for coronavirus be released, as they have completed twice the stipulated quarantine period of 14 days as COVID19 suspects.

In a letter to Delhi Health minister Satyendar Jain, commission chairman Zafarul Islam Khan and member Kartar Singh Kochhar also claimed that facilities for food and medicines at these camps were poor.

The letter said people brought to quarantine camps from the Tabligh Markaz in Nizamuddin would complete 28 days in isolation on Monday.

This is twice the mandatory period of quarantine for COVID-19 suspects, as per guidelines issued by the US and the WHO, it added.

Uddhav Thackeray

New Delhi, Apr 26 (IANS): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday urged the people to go ‘Swadeshi’ to tackle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that has claimed over 820 lives in India so far.

In an online address, Bhagwat also spoke on the importance of staying at home, following the lockdown rules and social distancing norms to combat the coronavirus. “Stay at home and pray to God,” he said.

Bhagwat, while addressing the proposed intellectual class online by the Nagpur metropolis of RSS, said that the crisis of corona in the country is increasing. “People can win the war by staying at home.

Also, we should follow lockdown norms and social distancing”. He said the last few days of lockdown enabled him to spend time at home.

Reacting to the killing of two saints in Maha-

Mohan Bhagwat

rashtra’s Palghar, Bhagwat urged everyone to control “anger”. “The sages did not harm anyone,” he said.

He said, “We have to follow the lockdown. We have to get out of this crisis.

Our crisis has to be made an opportunity. Swadeshi has to be adopted”.

Mohan Bhagwat reiterated the point of being self-reliant.

“Air and water have become cleaner due to the lockdown,” he said. “We have to consider how we can generate employment again after the end of lockdown.”

“The entire world is battling coronavirus. We

‘PM must form national coalition post-lockdown’ NEW DELHI, APR 26 (PTI): Former Union law minister Ashwani Kumar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form a national coalition of opinion makers and political mobilizers to suggest measures for tackling the coronavirus situation and ending lockdown.

He said the Centre and the opposition should come together to offer the most effective solutions to fight humanity’s battle for survival while rising above partisan considerations.

“This is the time to vindicate peoples’ trust in their leaders and in our political processes,” Kumar told PTI. “The prime minister must take the initiative to invite top leaders of major

will have to win this battle by staying at home,” he said.

“This society is ours... the country is ours, that’s why we are working. It is a new disease, so not everything is known. So work with caution. Do not get tired, you will have to keep trying. Please follow the government’s instructions,” Bhagwat said.

“We do not distinguish between humans. Our effort is to help the needy,” he added. The RSS chief said the Sangh has postponed all programmes till June 30.

Saying that there is a need to learn from the current crisis, Bhagwat said “we will have to adopt Swadeshi behaviour. The society as well as the country should adopt Swadeshi so that no one needs to depend on foreign products.”

“The coronavirus-triggered crisis can be treated as an opportunity to shape up a new India. Emphasis will have to be given on making quality indigenous products,” he said.

political parties to be part of a deliberative decision making process, which can forge the broadest political consensus to tackle the crisis due to the pandemic,” he said.

“A national coalition of opinion makers and political mobilizers for this purpose will give hope to people in distress,” he said.

Kumar’s call comes in the wake of Modi making a fervent appeal to all parties to unitedly fight the battle against coronavirus.

The Congress has been making suggestions to the Centre regarding the exit strategy for the ongoing lockdown and resolving the problems of the poor, migrant workers and the MSME sector.

Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI): With around 300 terrorists reported to be waiting across the Line of Control in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) to sneak into Kashmir Valley, the Indian Army is taking steps to “re-calibrate” its counter-infiltration grid and counter-insurgency strategies to check the intrusion.

Lt Gen B S Raju, who is commanding the strategically-located XV corps in Kashmir, has also asked his formations to take adequate precautions during patrolling along the Line of Control (LoC) in view of the coronavirus outbreak with the possibility of the infiltrating terrorists having infection not being ruled out.

The field intelligence units of the Army coupled with inputs comprising HUMINT (human intelligence) and TECHINT (technical intelligence) indicate that around 300 terrorists, mainly of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkere-Taiba (LeT), are waiting across the border to sneak in, officials said, citing reports from Srinagar collated

Analysis done by scientists abroad has shown that the L-type strain has been dominant where more mortality is reported among coronavirus patients. contained the L-type strain.

This strain has a much higher virulence as compared to the S-strain,” he said.

“Variation in coronavirus is in terms of number and percentage of mutations. As per the analysis, the L-type strain is dominant where more mortality is reported. Scientists have earlier found that this strain has caused more deaths,” he said. The GBRC recently succeeded in decoding the entire genome sequence of the novel coronavirus, and identified its three new mutations.

Joshi added that the patient from whom the virus sample was collected for sequencing has fully recovered. So far, no study has been conducted here to establish which strain of

Lt Gen B S Raju

in the national capital.

As many as 16 launch pads along the LoC had been activated in the recent weeks by the Pakistan Army and its external snooping agency ISI which included those located in difficult terrains like Nowshera and Chhamb from where the terrorists are known to enter the Gulmarg area of north Kashmir.

The reports said Gen Raju has been regularly holding meetings with the formations to work on the re-calibration of Counter Infiltration Grid (CIG) to ensure that no terrorist gives the slip and reaches the hinterland after crossing the LoC. The increased

attempts from across the border to push in militants are also being factored in by the Army in its new approach. In the event of an engagement at the LoC with the terrorists, the troops have been asked to handle any bodies with utmost care as they could be infected with the novel coronavirus, the officials said.

The CIG has been made much more robust and the coordination among various security agencies in the grid smooth, the officials said, adding some changes have been made in the troop deployment which includes putting an additional layer of troops. Officials said a heavy concentration of ter-

coronavirus is predominant in patients here.

Atul Patel, a specialist in infectious diseases, attributed the presence of the L-type strain more than the S- type one in Gujarat is behind high mortality rate.

Patel has said that a little higher presence of the L-type strain, or the original Wuhan strain, could be behind higher death rate in the state. The state government has also attributed the high mortality among coronavirus patients in the state to co- morbidities and high risk factors.

Heart and lung diseases, diabetes, and hypertension, are among common diseases that have been found among COVID-19 patients who passed away in Gujarat.

rorists was witnessed across Leepa valley, Athmuqam and Dudniyal, the same area in higher reaches of Keran sector in north Kashmir where a group of five terrorists had infiltrated on April 1 and who were subsequently neutralised on April 5. Five army personnel also lost their lives in the gunfight.

The launch pads like Dumail, Sardari and Dhakki, which are normally activated in late summer, had also witnessed the presence of terror groups this time, the officials said.

Among other launch pads that had seen presence of terrorists included Shardi, Neelum valley, Nowshera and even Chakoti, Khoja bandi and Haji Peer. These camps were used by the terrorists to sneak into the Uri army camp in 2016.

As many as 19 soldiers were killed when four terrorists entered the camp on September 18, 2016. All the infiltrating terrorists were subsequently killed. This incident led to Uri surgical strikes in which the Army’s special forces targeted the terror camps across the LoC.

Corona hotspots in Delhi increased to 95 Senior govt doctor, another Prolonged lockdown may push millions man die of COVID-19 in Bengal into margins of subsistence: Ex RBI Gov

Workers are seen cleaning a road near Vayu Bhawan, during a nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI) New Delhi, Apr 26 (IANS): The number of containment zones in Delhi increased to 95 now as 111 fresh cases were reported in the national capital in a single day taking the total tally to 2,625.

54 people have died of corona in Delhi while one of the patient died on Saturday.

869 people have recovered from the deadly virus of which 12 were discharged from hospital on Saturday. As of now, K Y M C

there are 1,702 corona active patients in the city.

On Saturday, three more areas were added to the hotspots list in Delhi.

Street no 9 and 3 in Shalimar village and house number 303 in street number 1 to house number 289 in street number 3 in Yadav villa block X in northeast Delhi have been sealed.

With this the total number of hotspots in the national capital increased to 95.

Southeast district in Delhi has the highest num-

ber of corona hotspots. A senior Delhi government official said, “Neither anyone is allowed to go in nor come out of the areas which are been sealed. Essential services to the people living in there are been provided by the policemen and other employees here.”

The Delhi government agreed to the order of the Union Home Ministry to open neighbourhood shops. However, the shops in the containment zones will still not be allowed.

Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI): A senior government doctor involved in the fight against COVID-19 and a 34-yearold man, both diagnosed with the disease, died at a hospital here on Sunday, sources at the facility said.

Sixty-year-old Dr Biplab Kanti Dasgupta, posted as assistant director health services (equipment and stores), was initially admitted to Beliaghata Infectious Diseases hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Salt Lake on April 18, where he succumbed to the disease.

“After he tested positive for COVID-19, he was first taken to Beliaghata ID hospital and then to the Salt Lake private hospital. The doctor was suffering from respiratory distress and other co-morbidities and had been on ventilator since he was admitted to the hospital. He died at 1.20 am on Sunday,” sources told PTI. Expressing “pain” at his death and extending condolence to the family of the doctor, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said his contribution to fighting the COVID-19 outbreak would encourage others.

“We have lost Dr Bi-

plab Kanti Dasgupta, Assistant Director, Health Services, West Bengal in the early hours of today. He was Assistant Director of Health Services, Central Medical Stores. We are deeply pained with his untimely demise,” Banerjee tweeted.

“His sacrifice for the cause of ailing humanity will ever be in our hearts and will make our COVID warriors fight the deadly virus with even greater determination.

My heartfelt condolence to Dr Dasguptas bereaved family members and colleagues,” she added.

Another patient from the city’s Garden Reach area, who had tested positive for the disease earlier in the week, also died around 7 am at the same facility.

“The 34-year-old man was admitted to the hospital on April 23. He, too, had breathing problems and was put on ventilator. He died today morning,” they added.

After several calls made to senior government officials for more information on the two fatalities went unanswered, an official insisting that he not be named, said, “The reason behind the death of the ADHS is still under investigation”.

Hyderabad, Apr 26 (PTI): A prolonged lockdown may possibly push million of Indians into the “margins of subsistence”, former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subba Rao said on Sunday while expecting a V curved recovery once the COVID-19 crisis ends and the turnaround in India to be faster than some economies.

He was participating in a webinar on History repeats - but differently- Lessons for the post Corona World,” organised by the Manthan Foundation here, in which former Deputy Governor of RBI Usha Thorat took part “Because most analysts believe that this year India will actually have negative growth or growth will contract. We must remember that even ahead of the crisis two months ago our growth slowed. Now it has completely stopped.

Last year growth was five per cent. Just imagine, five per cent growth last year and we are going to negative or zero growth this year, a decline of five per cent growth,” he said.

“It is true that India

Duvvuri Subba Rao

is going to perform in this crisis better than most other countries. But that is no consolation....

Because we are a very poor country and if the crisis persists and if the lockdown is not lifted soon enough, it is quite possible that millions of people will be pushed into the margins of subsistence, he said when asked about his views on the present situation.

Subbarao said that as predicted by analysts, India will have a V shaped recovery which is far better than most of the other countries.

“And why do we expect a “V” shaped recovery?

Because unlike in a cyclone or in an earthquake, this is not a natural disaster constraint.

No capital has been destroyed. Factories are standing. Our shops are still standing. Our people are ready to work as soon as the lockdown is lifted.

So it is quite possible the recovery will be V shaped and while we have a V shaped recovery, I think India has a better chance then most of the countries,” he opined. According to him, Indias recovery was faster than many other countries after the 2008 global financial crisis.

On IMFs prediction that India may grow at 1.9 per cent during the current year against about five per cent in the last fiscal, Subbarao said many analysts feel that the prediction is outdated and the growth in GDP may slip into negative.

He said the “life versus livelihood” dilemma for the country is arguably very “short while” for India.

Usha Thorat said pumping more liquidity into the system alone cannot work and banks and NonBanking Finance Companies (NBFC) will need credit guarantee or enhancement to start lending.

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OPINiON/EDITORIAL

Nagaland Post Vol. XXx NO. 140 Dimapur, MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020

A controversial COVID-19 case

A

fter Assam minister of finance, health & family welfare and education announced that a patient who was referred from Dimapur to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital(GMCH), was tested positive for COVID-19 on April 12, several things happened.

The news had a far reaching consequence on the state government which was caught by surprise. The state’s so far ‘Nil’ record on COVID-19 was erased.

The other was that the COVID-19 scanner at Dimapur was unable to conclude that the patient, was able to move around from clinic to hospital, seeking medical treatment. He was eventually referred to Guwahati for treatment when his condition worsened. He was admitted to GMCH and tested positive for COVID-19 on April 12. The case exposes the inherent faultiness in the monitoring of COVID-19 though this is not restricted to Nagaland. As per records, the patient had earlier travelled to Hyderabad then Kolkata before returning to Dimapur on March 24,2020. Most surprisingly, he was able to pass through the screening at the airports in Hyderabad and Kolkata. Even if the person was able to pass through screening at Dimapur airport, he should have reported to health authorities and made to undergo the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine period.

He was also supposed to present himself after completing the 14-day quarantine to the COVID-19 hospital for another test. What is quite baffling is on how the COVID-19 suspect was able to move around some localities of Dimapur including a public market place on several occasions. The other issue is about a strange situation in which the COVID-19 patient finds himself today. His COVID-19 positive status is neither recorded under Assam or Nagaland. Assam authorities say that since he was a patient from Nagaland and referred to GMCH where he was tested positive for COVID-19 ; his status should be recorded under Nagaland. On the other hand, Nagaland authorities maintain that the patient was admitted at GMCH and tested positive for COVID-19 there and so his status should be recorded under Assam. As if this controversy was not enough, recent reports in a section of the press claimed that second test done on the patient was negative. GMCH authorities when approached by this newspaper refuted the report and maintained that the second test was also positive and that the third was to be taken.

For whatever reasons, the state health department jumped into the fray to claim that the second test was negative(in concurring with a report in another media) and that a third test taken showed positive and that the fourth was on the way. Since it became confusing, this newspaper again confirmed with the GMCH authorities about the facts. GMCH authorities confirmed that two tests were taken and in both, the patient tested positive for COVID-19. They said the third test would be done after the 14-day period(which is likely by end of April) and therefore, only two tests and not three, have been done. The government of Nagaland appears to be more intent in maintaining its previous( pre-April 12) status of ‘Nil’ record or COVID-free.Even on the issue of the tests done on the patient, it is quite surprising that the state government had dragged itself into the matter when it had washed its hands off that he is not under the state’s record. Now that the GMCH had given a clear picture of the matter, the state government should instead be concerned with more pressing issues of preparedness and learning lessons from recent events.

DailyDevotion The Supreme Climb

Take now your son…and offer him…as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. —Genesis 22:2 A person’s character determines how he interprets God’s will (see Psalm 18:25-26). Abraham interpreted God’s command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of a tremendous ordeal. God could purify his faith in no other way.

If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him. There are many such beliefs which must be removed– for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil’s lie and a travesty on the true nature of God! If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.

The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience. Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go …both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.

Quotes

He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much. ~ Elbert Hubbard

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020

Post-mortem

Exit LD, isolate hotspots, ignore large houses

T

he nation has to end the lockdown having high human cost. Any more extension would be disastrous for all including education, farmers, transport sector – train, flights, trucks, buses to taxis and small vendors. 200 migrants also corona heroes.

Pay or allowances cut exacerbates a crisis. It hits the purchasing power and recoils back on the economy. The crisis has been brewing and instead of sending a grim signal, centre could have deferred payment or as in the past credit it to provident fund instead of freezing it.

The actual deferment due to DA freeze would be Rs 38000 for 48 lakh central employees and 82,000 crore for 1.6 lakh crore state staff – Rs1.20 lakh crore. As it is not deferred payment it would hit all future payments, calculations and retirement benefits.

It will be a major loss to the economy. It signals contraction as the corporate also either cuts salaries or reduces number of employees hitting about 10 crore workers – 40 crore people. In reality the government would get about Rs 40,000 crore back

as income tax and at least Rs 25,000 crore as indirect taxes if the DA is paid. The unorganized has already thrown out at least 5 crore people out of job leading to the largest exodus of migrant workers since 1947 partition. It is straining MGNREGS. It is the beginning of severe downturn. It is to last years, says Sanjeev Sanyal, principal economic adviser. About 5 percent of companies are hopeful of revival in 12 to 24 months, reveals a study by Wills Towers Watson. The optimistic 57 percent expect moderate to large negative business impact in the next six months due to corona lockdown (LD). While 46 percent organisations expect the gloomy phase to be over in 12 months, 19 percent expect it to last for two years.

He is silent on prices.

These are rising everyday as production and supplies are hit. A major concern of many organisations is labour shortage post lockdown as migrant workers are walking back in extreme weather conditions for survival and food. Some were buried under snow, many died a few miles away from their homes after walking

for1000s of km, and some companies were the biggest decommitted suicide. faulters leading to the collapse Over 200 of them lost of the banking system and its their lives. They are not in the huge NPAs since 2008-09. In list of corona heroes. They re- reality, the large organisations mind of the harshest treatment do not need any support at that girmitia or indentured this stage. If the government labour was meted out from is expecting that these would Fiji, Mauritius to West In- create jobs, it is daydream. dies. The deaths In 2008-09, due to corona Shivaji Sarkar they did not till April 23 are do and even 686. Official doles for 80 crore they are not likely to do it expose that the country’s claim now. Interest rate cut is to hit for number of people below the savers and geriatric. The poverty line at 21.9 percent as sudden LD has hurt severely. per Asian Development Bank Instead of such strong steps, or 23.6 percent of World Bank India had the option to look – 28 crore – is not correct. for selected measures as some Sanyal is right. He says, countries have done. The co“We are not going to solve rona toll is almost comparable poverty by giving Rs 500. but disruptions less.

We are just cushioning the It is virtually a second hit”. So RBI with great fan- major blow since 2016 notefare announced that it has ban blow. The total loss recapitalized banks and other might be more than presumed financial institutions with Rs due to lingering effect of LD 1 lakh crore cash. It does not and the 23 percent fall - $ 20 reveal that it is depleting its billion - in NRI remittances. reserves once again. It also Oil price fall spells doom for exposes the fragility of bank- Indian workers in the Gulf. If ing system. This money is not the lower oil price – below $ to be spent for the poor but for 20 - benefit is passed on to the habitual defaulters, at least consumers, it can help reduce since 2008 financial crisis. costs and hardships. But fallThe official Economic Surveys ing rupee to Rs 79 to a dollar have recorded that 50 largest and high gold prices also have

AR, Mnp police violating COVID-19 protocols: NSCN (I-M)

W

hile the world battles the corona virus pandemic, and lockdown enforced in almost all parts of the world, the Indian Army (Assam Rifles) and Manipur police, are recklessly going belligerent to throttle the NSCN in Manipur on the pretext that there is no Indo-Naga ceasefire in Naga areas of Manipur state. They have also taken the antiquated stand that there is no NSCN designated camp in Ukhrul district. What is, however, alarming is the reason behind the bellicose stand taken by the Manipur government.

There is every indication that ‘carte blanche’ order has been given by the Home Ministry, Government of India (GoI) in dealing with the NSCN under the so-called Unified Command of Manipur of state police and security forces. This Unified Command was allegedly formed recently with the direction of the Home Ministry, Government of India to crush the aspirations of self-determination movement of the people in Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur by the State and Para-military forces.

What is blatantly seen in Kashung-Bungdung under Kasom Khullen Block, Ukhrul district, is the ill-timing of the unwarranted provocation against the Tangkhul Naga people when every single person is engaged in maintaining social distancing protocol in the midst of lockdown as laid down by the World Health Organization (WHO).

NSCN deplores such thoughtless

and deliberate violation of the infectious Covid-19 protocol. This inglorious act of the Manipur state government against the Nagas will go down into history as an act against humanity. Thus, the intrusion of Indian Army and Manipur state police forces into the Kashung-Bungdung areas that are strictly abiding the Covid-19 protocol has put the villagers at great risk of exposing them to the possibility of asymptomatic Corona virus carriers. Such a blatant violation of Covid-19 protocols when the whole world is gripping with the spread of Covid-19 pandemic is nothing but highly irresponsible and condemnable by all who share the fear of what is happening to the world today.

With regards to NSCN Designated Camp in Ukhrul, the then Chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) Lt. Gen. R.V. Kulkarni (Retd.) in his letter (dated 06.02.2007) to Shri Naveen Verma, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI, approved Khangkhui-Shirui forest area as NSCN designated camp.

The present Phungtha Brigade Camp is the alternative arrangement after Naga Army vacated Khangkhui-Shirui forest area.

The stand of the Unified Command is that there is no ceasefire with the NSCN in Naga areas of Manipur state.

In the context of this background, the Centre should rein Manipur Government from going against what has been

officially sanctioned. The 24 AR personnel who are in the thick of the storm in the present standoff with the women folks of the area should also learn to draw the line and not go overboard to bring about acrimonious situation. Earlier, AR attempted to attack NSCN camp at Kangoi under Kasom Khullen block, Ukhrul district but women organizations of the area foiled their plan. NSCN cadres, however, shifted their camp gracefully to avoid aggravating the situation.

NSCN is however, baffled at the inconsistency on the part of the Government of India in managing the Indo-Naga political peace process. We are compelled to take assessment of the GoI of their seriousness in finalizing the political negotiation when the government machineries are behaving in total contravention of the spirit of peace talks.

Placed under such unwarranted situation we do not see any political wisdom in this kind of avoidable confrontation as no party stands to harvest any military or political benefit. Both the party will be dancing to the tune of those elements who are hell- bent in jeopardizing the hard earned Indo-Naga political negotiation to nothingness. Sincerity should be demonstrated in realistic manner as nothing matters more than to diminish trust deficit in this crucial juncture. Kuknalim!

Issued by MIP, NSCN/GPRN

fallouts. The Rs 43,574 crore Facebook investments in Jio telecom wipes out its debt.

Another Rs 7600 crore Abu Dhabi royal funding of LuLu groups of Kerala revives hope that India has still faith of foreign investors. So does Kotak Mahindra bid to $ 1 billion equity capital.

The challenge is how to win back confidence of migrant workers for their return.

The rural and farm economy has to be strengthened. Postcorona a new model is needed.

Villages have to sustain India – decentralized cash economy, as discussed by RSS in its revival of village clusters – gram sankul yojana - in April 2015.

The system has to respect the human capital. It is they who make an economy. Through toil they earn and by spending they sustain. Their wage suppression and harassment has to be replaced by giving the real cost to honour dignity of labour and sustainable livelihood. The virus also reveals that 1991 economic model has failed. A new system has to be carved out. As Bill Gates hails prime minister Narendra Modi as world model, chances are bright. But the revival plan

has to target the common man and his free movement instead of large houses. An essential is to reduce and removal of unnecessary costs like highway tolls, fast tag, many cess, fees, irrational charges, city entrance taxes and cut in GST. The nation would revive as people toil and move freely.

Restricted access-controlled highways or facilities are the biggest revival hindrance.

The poor have to be empowered and banks have to honour their savings with higher interest payments. It would help the banking sector bolster its cash reserves. The nation has to end the LD. Any more extension would be disastrous for all including education, farmers, transport sector – train, flights, trucks, buses to taxis and small vendors. Diseases are not new to this country. Selective isolation of areas would solve that.

But policing the entire country has led to many protests, unhappiness and lack of trust, unsafe roads and lynchings.

Modi is capable of taking firm and bold decision. If he takes the plunge, the virus would be conquered and economy would be back on rails.

COVID-19 end life care, management of dead body Key Facts: 1. There is no increased risk through droplet infection from a dead body to health workers or family members as dead body will not; • Cough.

• Sneeze • Breath • Talk.

2. Standard infection prevention control practices should be followed at all times as precaution against surface contamination.

These are • Hand hygiene • Safe handling of sharps • Use of PPE eg. Gloves, mask and plastic apron for those directly handling the dead body.

Removal of the Body from the room 1. Following standard infection prevention control measures health worker will remove all tubes, drain and catheter from the dead body and sanitise the body with 1% hypochlorite solution.

2. If the family of the patient wishes to view the body, they may be allowed to do so without touching the body while wearing mask and gloves.

3. Place the dead body in a leak proof plastic body bag or wrap the dead body with leak proof plastic sheet. Place the body in the coffin and seal. Disinfect the coffin with 1% hypochlorite wait for 30 minutes, than hand over the body to the relatives.

4. Properly packed, sealed and disinfected coffin can safely be handed over to the family.

5. Advise relatives not to open the coffin.

6. The health care workers will do

all the formalities as per SOP (Standard Operative Procedure) for safe handling and coffin will be delivered to the family for performing the final rites.

Transportation 1. The body secured in a leak proof plastic body bag or coffin and the exterior of which is decontaminated with 1% hypochlorite solution poses no additional risk to the staff or to the family members transporting the dead body.

2. The personnel handling the body may follow general standard precaution by means of wearing masks and gloves.

3. The vehicle after transfer of the body to the burial site may be cleaned with 1% hypochlorite or formulated bleaching powder as a general procedure.

At the burial ground/Crematorium 1. The body should not be taken out from the sealed coffin and it should be buried or cremated with the coffin.

2. Religious ritual such as reading of the religious scripts, sprinkling of holy water, any other last rites that does not require opening of the coffin can be allowed.

3. The funeral/burial staff and family member should perform hand hygiene after cremation/burial by washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol based hand sanitizer.

4. The body once buried will have no health or environmental hazards.

5. The ash does not have any risk after cremation and can be collected to perform the last rites.

(DIPR feature)

Know our health care system and its shortcomings C (From previous issue) vices have low cost or work essential medicines. ailments directly by adminhallenges for health at free of cost. Since the Best ways to improve istering simple remedies; care system which government provides these health care system:and only refer to secondary need to be mitigated services, they don’t charge 1. A well functioning care for the more complex are:any extra money to serve healthcare system requires problems.

1. Low quality care is the patients. a steady financing mecha8. Using the interactive prevalent due to incorrect 8. Governmental fail- nism, voice response (IVR) techdiagnosis, under trained ure to initiate and foster a properly trained and nology, the existing hospital health professionals and effective partnerships be- adequately paid workforce. phones can be configured to the prescription of incorrect tween the public and private 2. Well maintained fa- act as automated telephone medicines. healthcare spheres results in cilities, access to reliable answering machines, which 2. India’s public health- financial contracts. information and no wait- give instructions to the pacare system pays salaries 9. Both social and fi- ing lists. tients to book appointments during absences, leading nancial inequality results in 3. Compulsory health and provide guidelines. to excessive personal days barriers of access to health- insurance for all persons.

9. Assure an adequate being paid for by the gov- care services in India.

4. Combines private, local public health care ernment.

10. Services aren’t ac- subsidized private and pub- Infrastructure.

3. Clinics are over- cessible for the disabled, lic healthcare systems to pro10. Promote healthy crowded and understaffed mentally challenged, and vide its citizens with a large Communities and healthy without enough beds to elderly populations. network of qualified doc- behavior and prevent the support their patients.

11. Mothers are dis- tors, best-equipped medical Spread of communicable 4. Primary health cen- advantaged and in many facilities and hospitals.

Disease. tres (PHCs) lack basic infra- rural areas there is a lack 5. Funding comes from 11. Protect Against structural facilities such as of abortion services and two sources: financing based environmental health hazbeds, wards, toilets, drinking contraception methods. on taxes that is used to pro- ards. water facility, clean labor 12. Public clinics often vide primary healthcare ser12. Prepare and rerooms for delivery, and have a shortage of the ap- vices and National Health spond to emergencies. regular electricity. 27% of propriate medicines or may Insurance (NHI), which is 13. Use Mobile Clindoctor posts at PHCs are supply them at excessively financed with compulsory ics to go to the patient. vacant. high prices, resulting in large fees.

Mobile clinics include clin5. Overcrowding also out of pocket costs.

6. NHI must fund pri- ics that provide primary increases the likelihood of 13. Lack of awareness vate healthcare, occupation- care services, preventive diseases spreading, particu- on facilities provided un- al healthcare and outpatient care services or dental care larly in urban crowded areas der various government care. services from a van, truck, of cities. schemes.

7. A simple computer- or bus equipped with all of 6. Improper sanitation 14. Barriers to access aided symptom based diag- the necessary technology to and waste disposal even in the financial, organiza- nostic application is needed provide clinical services in within clinics, can lead to tional, social, and cultural to improve the delivery of underserved areas both rural an increased incidence of domains can limit the utili- health services in rural ar- and urban. infectious diseases. zation of services. eas, to guide the paramedic/ 14. Establishing Stu7. Public health ser15. Escalating prices of nurse in handling common dent Run Clinics. Student Reader’s note: Articles or letters published in any of the columns do not reflect the view of this

run clinics affiliated with medical college are also taking medical care where it is needed. They not only give medical students experience in providing preventive care to vulnerable populations but they are often located in extremely impoverished areas, which provides those individuals with free and

easily accessible care.

15. There is an urgent need to invest in building healthcare infrastructure including modern amenities. stay safe and god bless our nagaland (Concluded) Marina Seyie, dieze Colony, Chümoukedima

Reader’s Post

Good opportunity for India

Sir,

COVID-19 could be the Chernobyl moment for a resurging China (Editorial, “WHO did it?”, April 26).

It has become evident that geo-political and economic relations are not going to be the same after the crisis is over. What we are seeing is the West, led by the United States, attempting to take back control what it has been losing with a rising China. With businesses leaving China due to the wrong perception it has suffered due to the pandemic, it is a good opportunity for India to take up that space. However, policy flip-flops have to be prevented for that to happen as has been the norm with the Modi government on economic issues. The govt needs to consult a huge range of stakeholders, including the small and medium entrepreneurial class, and arrive at a policy framework. Once the policy has been framed, unless completely necessary, the policy arrived at has to be followed. It will be pointless to make a quick grand industrial policy only to change and put restrictions at the first sign of trouble.

Chothazo Nienu, Hyderabad newspaper nor that of the Editor in any manner.

Microbiologist cautions on COVID-19

Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 26: Even as the Meghalaya government has so far been able to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus, experts sounded caution against any complacency.

“This virus is new, and it may remain asymptomatic in a person beyond two weeks, a period when the virus is expected to manifest. An asymptomatic patient is as dangerous as the symptomatic patient,” says India’s leading microbiologist Dr. Rajesh N. Sharan.

Sharan, a Professor of Molecular Biology at Department of Biochemistry of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) here in Meghalaya, said, “The only and only options left to humanity to control and break the spread of the virus is by strictly adhering to the global health guidelines, which we in India are also following it.”

“We have no other option at this time. Of course, this virus seriously threatens the well-being of the weaker sections of

the society. So, we need to put in place appropriate measures to take care of this section of the society until the norms change,” he said.

On Meghalaya government not being able to trace the source of COVID-19 that had infected and killed the first positive patient, Sharan said, “.. I would say that the source is something else and the most likely source is elsewhere. We should not make conjectures. We must have solid scientific evidence for it.”

Asked if antibody screening for coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is needed, Sharan, who had earlier developed a bio-molecular marker for detection of early cancer in human body, said, “antibody screening is very quick and much less technical as compared to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) screening, which is time consuming and highly technical.”

“While the PCR test is definitive, antibody test is indicative. So, depending on the need, the test methodology has to be chosen.

Dr. Rajesh N. Sharan

If the purpose is to screening the population or a population group, antibody test may be better since it is quick and simple. But if we want a confirmatory diagnostic test, we shall need a PCR test only,” he explained.

On reports of different strains in different countries, Sharan, who is also the founding council member of Asian Association of Radiation Research, Japan said, “Yes, this appears to be the case based on whatever limited information is available at this point in time from different labs in different countries. As I said earlier, in absence of cred-

Meghalaya to ramp up testing for COVID-19: Tynsong Correspondent

Shillong, Apr 26: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Saturday said the government will ramp up testing for COVID-19.

“Currently, we are testing 140 swabs samples for COVID-19 in a day with the help of Assam,” he said in his daily briefing.

“NEIGRIHMS (North Easter n Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences) can test a maximum of 90 samples in a day while Assam is offering to test 50 samples a day,” Tynsong explained.

Informing that NEIGRIHMS will be getting extra machine for testing another 70 samples per day by next week, Tynsong said, “Meghalaya can test 160 samples a day and with the help of Assam we can test more than 200 samples per day.”

Stating that another testing COVID-19 centre will come up at Tura in West Garo Hills district, the Deputy Chief Minister expects the Centre would be operationalised by the end of April, since it will

5

Northeast

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020

Prestone Tynsong

take time for installation of machines.

“Another testing centre is likely to come up at Nazareth Hospital but there is some delay due to some extra paper work since it is a private institute,” he said, adding that another testing centre at Pasteur Institute in Shillong is on the offing.

Meanwhile, Tynsong said 10, 288 people, who are stranded outside the state, out of which 10, 287 have registered for the one time financial assistance of Rs. 3000 under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant.

“Till date financial assistance to 7288 such beneficiaries has been disbursed. Hopefully by next week, we will complete transferring the money,”

he said.

The state wise break up of such stranded students and those working in private companies are - Karnataka (2719), Assam (2104), Tamil Nadu (1164), Maharashtra (685), West Bengal (642), Delhi (531), Telangana (357), Kerala (254), Rajasthan (201), Gujarat (194), Uttar Pradesh (194), Andhra Pradesh (175), Uttarakhand (164), Haryana (120), Bihar (101), Goa (101), Arunachal Pradesh (94), Manipur (81), Madhya Pradesh (78), Punjab (58), Nagaland (56), Pondicherry (51), Mizoram (40), Tripura (35), Odisha (21), Sikkim (19), Himachal Pradesh (16), Jharkhand (15), Chandigarh (7), Chattisgarh (7), Andaman and Nicobar Island (4).

COVID-19: 8 more discharged from Assam hospital; total recovery-27

ible and reproducible results on different strain of the virus from different countries, it would be premature to conclude anything.”

“In my opinion, however, high and low rates of mutation of DNA and RNA viruses, respectively, is nothing to do with being ‘smart’ or not. It is to do with the life machinery used to replicate the virus.

DNA viruses use DNA polymerase for replication that has high fidelity, while RNA viruses use Reverse transcriptase for the same purpose that has low fidelity. The two processes have different characteristics and that influences their rates of mutation,” he added.

Asked about the percentage resemblance or difference in the genomic make up of the ‘corona’ and the novel corona virus strains, Sharan, who did his post-doctoral research at the Institute of Medicine, FZ, Jűlich and DKFZ, Heidelberg in Germany, said, “As the latest strain of corona virus, the novel corona virus/SARS- CoV-2, is a new type or variant (a

few months old – first reported in perhaps November/December 2019 and under intensive research at this time across the globe), not much is known and understood about it. So it is difficult to compare it with its older variants. However, this class of virus is a RNA virus, with small genome (about 30 kNT). Very characteristic about it is – and applies to all RNA viruses – that it mutates faster than, say DNA viruses, and hence newer variant get formed at a faster pace than other DNA viruses.”

Asked if the plasma therapy of the recovered people would be more effective and beneficial, the microbiologist said, “Only a few such clinical evidences are available till today. The blood plasma of a person recovered recently from the Covid-19 viral infection is likely to be rich in the antibody against the virus.

If that enriched plasma is transfused to another person who is suffering from Covid-19 infection, the person will get a booster of antibody present in plasma.”

Manipur panel to bring back stranded people

COVID-19: Indo-Myanmar border to be fenced in Mnp

Imphal, Apr 26 (PTI): A committee constituted by the Manipur government has decided to formulate a mechanism to bring back people from the state stranded in other parts of the country due to the lockdown, a senior official said.

The State Consultative Committee for COVID-19, headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, has acknowledged the hardships faced by the stranded persons and will formulate a mechanism to ensure their return to their homes, a statement issued by Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) V Vumlunmang on Saturday night said.

The 21-member committee was constituted on April 23.

A total of 30,000 people from Manipur are stranded in other parts of the country, of which 22,018 people have been given financial aid of Rs 2,000 each, the chief minister had said.

The committee also stressed on opening more quarantine centres for isolating the returning persons, the statement said.

It asked the Health Department to assist local MLAs in identifying locations for setting up the quarantine centres, it said.

Guwahati, Apr 26 (PTI): Eight more COVID19 patients have been discharged from hospital on Sunday, taking the total number of coronavirus recovered persons in Assam to 27, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Four patients were released from Golaghat Civil Hospital and four others from Guwahati’s Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, the minister said at a press conference here.

Assam so far has 35 COVID-19 positive cases of which 27 have been discharged and one patient has died.

“Now there are only seven active cases in the state with 27 discharged and one dead. We expect to release some more patients by April 30”, he said.

The recovery rate in Assam so far is 77 per cent which is “quite good”, the minister said.

The first COVID-19 case in the state, who is a cancer patient, however, is still showing positive in

Himanta Biswa Sarma

repeated tests and is still undergoing treatment at the Silchar Medical College Hospital, Sarma said.

The state has conducted 7,616 sample tests so far in the six laboratories in the state and of these 35 tested positive and 209 results are still awaited with the remaining being negative.

Guwahati Medical College Hospital tested 3,655 samples followed by 1,396 at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh and 1,047 at Fakhruddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, Barpeta.

Random sample tests are being done in three plac-

Correspondent

IMPHAL, APR 26: The Manipur government is now focussing on checking =spread of COVID-19 from across Mynamar by intensifying its vigil on crossborder movement of people along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Manipur shares around 398 km borderline with Myanmar, a country that has also been hit by the pandemic with 146 cases with five deaths as of April 26.

Manipur now has no COVID-19 positive case after t two patients infected by the virus have recovered and discharged from hospitals in Imphal they were treated recently.

Besides, no community or local transmission of the contagion was reported in the state so far.

The state government fears spread of the pandemic from the neighbouring country Myanmar where the virus reportedly hit the districts of the country bordering with Manipur.

Five hill districts of the state – Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tengnoupal, Chandel and Churachandpur –share international border with Myanmar.

However, the border in the three districts - Tengnoupal, Chandel and Chu-

Fencing work along Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur.

rachanpur are extremely porous and the state government is currently focussing on effective check of the cross-border movement in the porous border area.

After the state government sealed the international border on March 9 last, authorities of state government in the border districts have started erecting COVID-19 fencing along the borderline.

The border fencing work at Moreh sector of Tengnoupal district which was undertaken amid objections from Myanmar authority was almost completed few days ago.

The objection from the

Myanmar authority was eased by convincing them that the fencing was meant to checking cross border movement of people in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and not related to the international border line.

Obser ving inter national border at Behiang area of Churachandpur was another important sector for cross-border movement of people between the two countries, the state government has taken up similar work of erecting fencing along the borderline few days ago.

Official reports said fencing work of around 220 meter stretch of porous

es of Dhubri town, Chapor and Bilasipara of Dhubri district from Sunday to find out scientifically if people outside quarantine facilities have been infected or not, he said, “Assam’s success story is that after the primary cases related to Tablighi Jamaat tested positive, we were able to trace and quarantine all their contacts. The later cases in the state were all from quarantine facilities and now we have to find out scientifically about the situation outside the facilities”, the minister said.

The tests will be conducted with swab samples of people taken randomly, he said.

The state also has 9,600 Rapid Test Kits and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed tests with these kits for surveillance purpose, Sarma said.

There are 2.70 lakh PPE kits, 53,000 N95 masks and 46 lakh triple layer masks available in the state, the minister added.

border in Churachandpur’s Behiang area has been completed and works at other places along the border were in progress.

The fencing work at the Behiang area of the border was taken up on war footing after Tiddim township of the neighbouring Myanmar which is at a walkable distance from villages of Churachandpur district of Manipur became a COVID-19 hotspot with four confirmed cases of the virus so far.

In the backdrop of COVID-19 case in the immediate neighbour coupled with state government’s constant efforts to contain the spread of global pandemic in the state, police and security forces have intensified vigil along the border since the last few days.

Official source said that one additional company of IRB, tasked to strengthen the concerted efforts of the district police and AR to close gaps by engaging in regular patrolling activities , has been deployed in the border area.

Observing that the dry beds of the rivers that demarcate the international border were hotspots for cross border movement, the patrolling exercise also covered Tuivai, Samtui and Tuivel rivers.

Movement of stranded people within Assam till Apr 30: Sarma Nagaland fishery deptt issues SOPs Guwahati, Apr 26 (PTI): The Assam government has extended the period allowing movement of the stranded people, who have already applied for passes to travel home by personal vehicles and buses within the state, till April 30, Health and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday.

It had earlier allowed one-way movement within the state for three days by personal vehicles and Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) buses from April 25 in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The deputy commissioners of various districts had rejected 34,000 applications as those were for round-trips with people wanting to use their vehicles to bring back family members stranded in different districts, the minister said at a press conference here.

“It has been decided to allow a one-time round trip to such persons from April 28 to April 30 and they will be issued passes accordingly,” he said.

Already 26,950 people have reached their homes in K Y M C

Students board a bus after state authorities eased restrictions on inter-district travel for three days in Guwahati. (PTI)

their vehicles and another 11,588 will be cleared by Monday, while the movement of the remaining 34,000 people will be staggered over three days from April 28.

The ASTC has received 41,651 applications from those who wish to travel by bus and by Sunday, nearly 15,000 people will travel to their destinations, the minister said, adding that the remaining applications will be cleared by April 30.

“We want to settle the movement of stranded people within the state by April 30 so that if and when the lockdown is lifted, we can concentrate on those entering the state from outside,” Sarma said.

Meanwhile, the 391 students of the state coming from Rajasthan’s Kota by 17 buses have reached West Bengal and are expected to reach Guwahati by Sunday night. The boys in the group will be kept at the Sarusajai

quarantine facility and the girls at three hotels for the mandatory quarantine, the minister said.

Their swab tests will be conducted on the fifth day and a decision will be taken by doctors regarding their release, he added.

“The doctors will decide whether those testing negative can be discharged and if they can spend the remaining nine days in home observation,” Sarma said.

The students, who

were already in quarantine in Kota, have not come into direct contact with any COVID-19 patient and so, the quarantine period for them will be 14 days, he added.

The quarantine of the students is mandatory as they are coming from Rajasthan, which is in the “Red Zone”, and there is also a possibility of contracting the infection during the journey.

The minister also appealed to the owners of private hostels, paying guest facilities and owners renting out accommodation to those working in private companies and have not received their salaries in April, to give at least a 50-per cent concession on rents as a humanitarian gesture.

The government has so far deposited Rs 2,000 each in the bank accounts of nearly two lakh financially weak people from Assam who are stranded outside the state, besides providing financial assistance to 829 critical patients, who had gone outside the state for treatment, and 49 people, who had gone abroad on temporary work, Sarma said.

D I M A PUR , A PR 2 6 (NPN): Nagaland department of fisheries and aquatic resources has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to inland fisheries and aquaculture activities in COVID-19 scenario.

In a notification, commissioner & secretary Dinesh Kumar said that the department with modifica-

tion as per local conditions has adopted the SOPs related to movement of aquaculture farmers, fish workers; transport and marketing of fish, fish seed, feed and inputs for aquaculture activities and fishing in larger inland water bodies to ensure social distancing and undertaking requisite precautions in view of COVED-19.

SOPs would be imple-

mented through district administration including fisheries administration and need to be strictly followed by all stakeholders including fish farmers and farm workers/ hatchery operators and operating hands, Marginal fishers and Fish marketing personnel (wholesaler/ retailers).

(SOPs on Nagaland Post website E-paper in PDF)

Medical consignment including masks, gloves, sanitizers, medicines, etc. arrived at Lengpui Airport today delivered by Indian Air Force aircraft from Delhi. (PTI) K Y M C

6

international

Not worth my time: Trump on briefings

Washington, Apr 26 (PTI): US President Donald Trump has said that his daily coronavirus press briefings are not worth his “time and effort” as the “lamestream” media asks nothing but “hostile” questions, days after he faced intense rebuke for suggesting the possibility of treating COVID-19 patients by UV light or disinfectant injections.

Trump faced scathing criticism on Thursday for his outlandish suggestion, with health experts urging people not to listen to the President’s “dangerous” advice.

After more than a month of daily coronavirus press briefings, Trump stayed behind closed doors on Saturday, hinting that he was considering halting the White House briefings.

Trump took to Twitter about 45 minutes later, addressing the topic of his briefings.

“What is the purpose of having White House News Conferences when

Donald Trump

the Lamestream Media asks nothing but hostile questions, & then refuses to report the truth or facts accurately,” the president tweeted.

“They get record ratings, & the American people get nothing but Fake News. Not worth the time & effort!” he said.

Tr u m p ’s r e m a r k s came after the president’s controversial comments on Thursday during a press conference where he suggested the possibility of treating coronavirus patients by hitting their bodies with light or disinfectant injections.

The comments gar-

nered national attention and Trump came under heavy fire from health experts, elected officials and private companies who warned Americans not to ingest chemicals.

For mer Food and Drug Administration head Scott Gottlieb said there was “no circumstance” in which an individual should inject themselves with a disinfectant.

The company that makes Lysol also warned on Friday against ingesting its products.

Trying to wriggle out of the backlash he received for his outlandish suggestions, Trump on Friday

said that he was being sarcastic.

“I was asking a sarcastic — and a very sarcastic question — to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside,” he said.

The White House sought to pin the backlash on the media, issuing a statement that accused the press of taking Trump’s remarks out of context.

“President Trump has repeatedly said that Americans should consult with medical doctors regarding coronavirus treatment, a point that he emphasised again during yesterday’s briefing,” press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was quoted as saying by The Hill.

Beginning in March, Trump and Vice President Pence have given almost 50 daily press briefings to update the country on the administration’s ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 53,000 people in the US.

Wuhan hospitals clear all COVID-19 cases W u h a n, A p r 2 6 (IANS): The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province where the coronavirus pandemic originated last December, has dropped to zero, a health official said on Sunday.

The result was achieved with the hard efforts of medical workers in Wuhan and those who were dispatched to assist the city in the fight against the virus from across the country, said Mi Feng, a spokesperson for China’s National Health Commission, at a press conference in Beijing.

The last patient in serious condition in Wuhan was cured Friday, reducing the number of such patients in the city to zero.

In Hubei province, the number of existing COVID19 cases has dropped below 50 for the first time. No new confirmed cases of the disease have been reported for over 20 days in the province.

Ukraine honours Chernobyl liquidators 34 yrs after tragedy Kiev, Apr 26 (IANS): Ukraine on Sunday honoured the Chernobyl liquidators, 34 years after the worst nuclear tragedy in history.

Ukrainian Emergency Services Chief, Mykola Chechotkin, remembered the 530,000 liquidators of Chernobyl, recovery operation workers who worked tirelessly after the accident to put out the fires and clean up the toxic debris, reports Efe news.

“It is our sacred duty to remember all the liquidators of the Chernobyl accident. We remember everyone by name, both those who left for eternity, and those with whom we have the honor to live and work together,” he said in a statement.

“The Chernobyl accident radically changed the course of human life in minutes, set the destiny of millions of Ukrainians on fire and placed a heavy burden on the shoulders of our people.”

April 26 is “a day

A group of liquidators gathered at the Museum of Slavutych on the 32nd anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in 2018. (File)

to remember the greatest human-made disaster and honor everyone involved in alleviating the consequences of the Chernobyl accident”.

The emergencies head said the catastrophic event was “a symbol of the boundless courage of many thousands” of Ukrainians.

The anniversary comes

as emergency services have been grappling with fires in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, coming dangerously close to the nuclear power plant, for three weeks.

E ve n t h o u g h t h e main blaze has been extinguished, firefighters continue to fight smaller fires still burning in the exclusion zone in the Lubianski, Pa-

Maradona eager for football to return Buenos Aires, Apr 26 (IANS): Diego Maradona said that he is eager to return to work as the head coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and hailed his “beautiful” relationship with the club’s fans.

Argentinian football has been suspended since March 16 amid the global COVID-19 pandemic and officials have yet to indicate when local competitions might resume.

“It is a strange situation that we are in here and all over the world,” Maradona said in an interview with newspaper El Dia de La Plata. “I’m looking forward to returning to Estancia Chica (Gimnasia’s training ground) to work with my boys again. It will be like when you see your girlfriend after a vacation,” the 1986 FIFA World Cup winner added, according to Xinhua news.

Maradona compared Gimnasia’s supporters to those of Napoli, whom he famously represented as a player from 1984 to 1991.

“I have a beautiful relationship with the (Gimnasia) fans. They remind me of Napoli’s supporters because of their passion and loyalty,” added Maradona, who led the club from southern Italy to two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup, and who is still idolized by their fans.

Diego Maradona

Maradona took charge of Gimnasia last September when they were mired at the foot of the Argentinian Superliga standings with just one draw and four losses. However, the club improved markedly under Maradona, jumping five places in the 24-team Superliga standings to finish the season with six wins, six draws and 12 losses.

Despite their recovery, Gimnasia remain in danger of dropping to Argentina’s second tier under the country’s complex promotionrelegation system, which considers results over a three-year cycle. The fate of Maradona’s men rests

with their performances in the Superliga Cup, which was halted after just one week.

Maradona said he is in regular contact with his players and declined to comment on reports that the AFA might suspend its promotion-relegation system this year.

“With the work we were doing, I had no doubt that we were going to get out of the relegation zone,” the 59-year said. “We still have to wait and see what measures the AFA will take. We will work hard to make sure that we’re prepared for any possible scenario.”

rishivski, Detektivski and Denisovsky forest parks.

The blaze at one point reached the abandoned city of Pripyat, where the families of the plant operators lived when the fourth reactor broke down on April 26, 1986.

Authorities have confirmed there is no risk and radiation levels remain

normal.

The fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone broke out on April 4 in an area of 20 hectares which soon grew to 35 hectares due to strong winds.

Although firefighters have failed to put out the fire entirely they have prevented it from reaching the plant itself and the warehouses with radioactive waste.

Initially, authorities put the fire down to an unusually warm winter, with little snow, but later police arrested two people suspected of having caused the fire.

The explosion at Chernobyl was the equivalent to 500 atomic bombs like the one launched in Hiroshima, according to official evaluations.

Radiation from the disaster continues to affect thousands of inhabitants in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, where 70 percent of the 200,000 square kilometres of contaminated land is located.

sports

Declan Rice opens up on ‘shock’ Chelsea exit Lo n d o n, A p r 2 6 (Agencies): West Ham star Declan Rice has opened up on his shock Chelsea exit at the age of 14, describing it as a “massive disappointment”.

Rice, now 21, joined the Blues’ academy in 2006 but was ultimately released in 2014 as he was left to chase his football dream away from Stamford Bridge.

While Rice has gone on to prove Chelsea wrong as he stars for the Hammers, the midfielder admits the exit really shook him but didn’t sway his desire to become a professional footballer.

“I had to overcome a massive disappointment of being released by Chelsea at the age of 14,” Rice told Sky Sports’ Soccer AM. “That was everything I ever knew to be honest.

From nine to 14, training there Monday to Friday, playing games and to get told you won’t be a part of that anymore was a major shock. I never thought it would have to happen but it did.”

“And then I had the fortunate chance to sign for either Fulham or West Ham and chose West Ham and started a whole new chapter.

I knew it was going to be tough, but always as a kid I wanted to be a professional footballer. Nothing was ever going to get in the way of me working as hard as possible to become that.”

“I was just so driven and wanted to be the best I could be. I had to make sacrifices, move away from home, move into new digs, and now all the decisions that I made have played out really well,” said Rice.

Nagaland Post, Dimapur MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020

Satellite imagery finds likely Kim train Seoul, Apr 26 (AP): A train likely belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been parked at his compound on the country’s east coast since last week, satellite imagery showed, amid speculation about his health that has been caused, in part, by a long period out of the public eye.

The satellite photos released by 38 North, a website specialising in North Korea studies, don’t say anything about Kim’s potential health problems, and they echo South Korean government intelligence that Kim is staying outside of the capital, Pyongyang.

Seoul has also repeatedly indicated that there have been no unusual signs that could indicate health problems for Kim. That hasn’t stopped growing unconfirmed rumours and media reports about Kim’s health that have emerged since he missed an April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung.

Kim’s health is of cru-

Firefighters struggle to contain S.Korea mountain blaze Seoul, Apr 26 (IANS): Firefighters continued to battle a mountain fire in South Korea’s city of Andong, as strong winds hampered their containment efforts, the media reported.

The fire, which was first reported on Friday afternoon, has affected an estimated 100 hectares of mountain land, with no casualties reported yet, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Authorities have ordered nearby residents to evacuate and restricted traffic around the city.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Chin Young ordered officials to use all available resources to contain the fire as soon as possible and minimize its impact.

Around 1,000 firefighters, along with 20 helicopters and 40 fire trucks, have been mobilized to put out the fire. The exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined, they said.

Kim Jong Un

cial importance because of worries that the serious illness or death of a leader venerated with near godlike passion by millions of North Koreans could cause instability in the impoverished, nuclear-armed country.

Kim Jong Un’s train has been parked at the Leadership Railway Station servicing his Wonsan compound since at least April 21, the website 38 North said, citing an analysis of recent satellite photos of the area.

The website said the approximately 250-metre (820-foot) -long train wasn’t present on April 15 but was present on both April 21 and 23. “The train’s presence does not prove the where-

abouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health, but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the country’s eastern coast,” it said.

The photos indicate the train arrived before April 21 and was still present on April 23, when it appeared to be repositioned for departure. However, there was no indication when that departure might take place, 38 North said.

North Korea exerts extremely tight control on information about its leadership, making it virtually impossible for outsiders to find out what’s going on at those senior levels.

Yemen separatists declare autonomous rule in south Sanaa, Apr 26 (IANS): Separatists in southern Yemen have declared selfrule, breaking a peace deal signed last November with the internationally recognised government, it was reported on Sunday.

The Aden-based Souther n Transitional Council (STC) declared a state of emergency, saying it would govern the port city and other southern provinces, reports the BBC. The Southern Transitional Council is supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government warned of “dangerous and catastrophic consequences”.

“The announcement by the so-called transitional council of its intention to establish a southern administration is a resumption of its armed insurgency... and an announcement of its rejection and complete withdrawal from the Ri-

yadh agreement,” the BBC quoted Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Hadhrami as saying in a statement.

The two sides signed a power-sharing deal that was described by the UN as an important step towards ending Yemen’s civil war.

A Saudi-led coalition launched a military intervention in support of the Yemeni government in 2015, after Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a member of the coalition but supports the southern separatists.

In August last year, the Southern Transitional Council took over the government’s temporary capital, Aden, after accusing the administration of mismanagement.

The war in Yemen has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 100,000 people reported to have died.

Archer loses World Cup medal L o n d o n, A p r 2 6 (Agencies): Jofra Archer is searching for his 2019 Cricket World Cup winner’s medal after losing it during a recent house move.

Last year’s tournament was where Archer rose from relative obscurity to a household name, finishing as England’s leading wicket-taker with 20 dismissals at an average of 23.05.

Archer was chosen to bowl the super over in the Lord’s final against New Zealand last July, holding his nerve in the most dramatic of finishes as England completed a remarkable triumph.

But when asked about his souvenir from the day, Archer told BBC Radio 5 Live, “I had it hanging off a portrait someone did for me and sent to me, I had my medal hanging on

Jofra Archer with the World Cup trophy and medal.

that.” “I moved flat and the picture is on the new wall but there’s no medal.

I turned the house upside down for about a week but I still haven’t managed to find it. I know it should be in the house so I will keep my eyes out for it but I’ve gone mad looking for it already.”

Archer admitted he has spent much of his time during the coronavirusenforced lockdown, having returned back to the United

Kingdom from Barbados last month, looking for his medal.

And the 25-year-old said the search will continue, adding: “There’s nothing else to do in isolation.

It’s all hands on deck.”

England prevailed in the final on boundary countback alone after they matched New Zealand’s total in the regulation 50 overs while the Kiwis equalled the hosts’ score in a nerveshredding super over.

‘Tokyo Olympics an opportunity to bring world together’ Los Angeles, Apr 26 (IANS): 2028 Los Angeles Olympics chairman Casey Wasserman said that the Tokyo Olympics has the opportunity to bring the world together in a “truly special, unique way.”

“I do think, if there is some medical successes to be had between now and 2021 and the Olympics

go off in Tokyo, I actually think it has the opportunity to bring the world together in a truly special, unique way,” he said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

“It may just reignite people’s passion for hosting the Olympic Games and the value of what people talk about as Olympism. When you get lost in, whether the

trouble cities have or the commercialisation or all the things that happen around a Games and you get back to sort of at its root what it is, I think it has a true opportunity.”

The 2020 Olympics became the first ever to be postponed. The rising number of coronavirus cases around the world and the re-

strictions that were imposed in most countries around the world led to a number of key qualifiers and tournaments being cancelled or dropping out of the qualification calendar through the early part of the year.

Eventually, the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee said in a joint state-

ment that the Tokyo Olympics had been pushed back by a year. While it is now scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, a number of global health experts have expressed their doubts on whether the situation around the pandemic will be conducive then for the Games to be held successfully.

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