In view of the "consistent rise" in COVID-19 positive cases in the state, the High Powered Committee (HPC) of the Nagaland government on Wednesday announced the extension of lockdown imposed in the state till May 31.
The decision to extend the statewide lockdown was taken at an emergency meeting of the High Powered Committee was held at the conference hall of the Chief Minister's Residential Complex under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday.
As per the HPC, online classes will be allowed to resume with immediate effect from May 24 as per the detailed SOPs to be brought out by the school education department.
For more efficient management of oxygen supply through cylinders, a centralised depot of oxygen cylinders will be created at Chumukedima Police Complex for efficient distribution and to minimise turn around time in refilling the cylinders. Zonal depots will also be set up in strategic locations across the state, the HPC stated.
To check the spread of the virus in rural areas, a system of community surveillance will be put in place through ASHA workers as well as NSRLM and other volunteers from the civil society organisation to be coordinated by the respective District Task Forces, it stated.
The HPC further stated that a total of 56 doctors have been recruited recently. The resultant vacancies of doctors and nurses under NHM caused due to this recruitment will be filled up by engaging suitable professionals on a temporary basis, it added.
The meeting was attended by the Planning minister, LR & Parliamentary Affairs minister, Advisor IT & ST and NRE, H&FW minister, Minister in-charge of Kohima district, Chief Secretary Nagaland and senior officers from the Health and family Welfare, Home and NSDMA, among others.
Meanwhile, Nagaland reported 244 new COVID-19 positive cases on Wednesday, taking the state's tally to 18,958.
Taking to Twitter, state Health Minister S Pangyu Phom said 115 new COVID-19 cases were reported from Dimapur, 88 from Kohima, 12 each from Mokokchung and Zunheboto, five each from Longleng and Wokha, three from Mon, two from Peren, and one each from Kiphire and Phek.
The state also recorded 215 new recoveries on Wednesday, including 152 from Dimapur, 47 from Kohima, six from Mokokchung, four from Phek, three from Zunheboto, and one each from Kiphire,Peren and Tuensang.
With these new recoveries, the cumulative number of recovered cases reached 13,706 while the number of COVID-19 active cases in Nagaland stands at 4,425, as per the latest update by the health minister.
A total of 235 COVID-19 patients have died in Nagaland, of which 11 deaths are not due to COVID-19, while 592 cases have migrated to other states, the health minister added.
