COVID-19: Lockdown in Dimapur from July 26 to August 2

Guwahati: In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in Dimapur, Nagaland, the District Task Force (DTF) has decided to impose a total lockdown in Dimapur from July 26 to August 2, reports said.

According to reports, this step has been taken due to the sharp spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the commercial district. The decision to enforce a total lockdown after an emergency meeting convened by the District Task Force (DTF).

This development has come to the fore a day after the district task force in Kohima imposed a lockdown due to a spike in the number of cases. Taking cognizance of the sharp spike COVID-19 cases in Nagaland's capital city Kohima, the District Task Force (DTF) has decided to impose a total lockdown in the Kohima municipality area from July 25-31.

During this period, only stores selling commodities (including pharmacies) deemed as "essential" shall be allowed to operate between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. It has also been decided that the vegetable vendors shall only be able to sell their wares in their respective colonies.

The decision to resort to another lockdown has been taken in order to enhance the active surveillance by the CMO coordination team of Kohima and ensure more comprehensive contact tracing, early detection of suspected cases, and isolation measures to slow down the chain of the transmission process and to further contain the spread of the COVID-19 infection.

This was announced a day after the Nagaland Government chose not to impose a "total lockdown" in the state, despite calls from several quarters to do so. The High-Powered Committee yesterday held an emergency meeting that was chaired by Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Minister. The demand for a total lockdown was discussed in the meeting, and the dignitaries said that a total lockdown is not a necessity in the state at this juncture.

The High Powered Committee, however, allowed the District Task Force (DTF) in Dimapur and Kohima (by far the most populous districts) to convene a meeting and decide whether or not to impose lockdown to curb the outbreak.

According to the Government, a total of 65 fresh COVID-19 cases were detected in Nagaland on July 24, 2020. Of these cases, 32 are from the armed forces , 25 are returnees, 1 frontline worker, and 7 among traced contacts.

Yesterday, the COVID-19 cases in Nagaland rose by 90; 43 among these patients were from the armed forces, 42 were returnees within quarantine centres, 4 were traced contacts of patients. A single case was detected among frontline workers.

Also Watch: #NewsMakers: People With Disabilities Coping With Covid