As a preventive measure to stop further spread of COVID-19 in Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said lockdown in the state will be continued till June 30.
Biren was speaking at a press briefing held at CM’s secretariat on Sunday. Stating that lockdown is one of the preventive ways to stop further spread of the disease, the chief minister maintained that the imposition of lockdown and curfew is to save the lives of the people.
The chief minister said that the MSME sectors, agriculture and horticulture related activities, MNREGS work etc. will be allowed during the lockdown. However, he cautioned that social distancing and advisories and protocols laid down by WHO and the Health Ministry must be obeyed by the people.
Highlighting some of measures taken up by the government to tackle the pandemic recently, he said that a 100-bedded dedicated COVID-19 hospital would be set up within 10 days in the state. The number of tests in the laboratories at RIMS and JNIMS have been increased to above 1000 tests per day and thermal scanners have been installed at Imphal International Airport, he added.
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He stated that the government has directed the chief medical officers of all districts to recruit volunteers and trained nurses. He stated that the number of institutional and community quarantine centres have been increased so as to accommodate the natives returned from different states.
Urging the people not to panic over the pandemic, the chief minister said that there is no community transmission of the disease in the state till now. He informed that around 28,000 natives who are stranded in various parts of the country have been brought back in the state during the lockdown.
The chief minister urged the public to ignore rumours and trust only the advisories and guidelines issued by credible agencies like WHO, ICMR, Health Ministry etc.
The meetings of Manipur State Consultative Committee for COVID-19 are being held every week to discuss the present situation and chalk out plans to fight COVID-19 in the state. He said that a Joint Committee on COVID-19 has been formed with members from different civil bodies of the state to create mass awareness about COVID-19 among the people of the state. COVID-19 awareness leaflets have been published in around 24 different tribal dialects, he added.
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Biren informed that as of May 31 4pm, around 71 COVID-19 cases have been detected so far and 11 patients have been recovered from the disease. He wished speedy recovery to all the patients who are undergoing medical treatment in the state.
The CM thanked the efforts of the frontline workers, media persons, student organisations, civil bodies to tackle the pandemic in the state.
Later, on the first anniversary of the second term of the Narendra Modi-led government at Centre, the chief minister congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the completion of one year that witnessed several achievements.
Biren expressed gratitude to the Narendra Modi-led government for fulfilling the long cherished dream of the people of Manipur by extending the Inner Line permit System in the state.
