The Nagaland government on Friday extended the ongoing lockdown till June 11 as the COVID-19 cases in the state continue to rise. The measure has been necessitated to address the grim situation in the state, according to the state government,

“In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22 (2) (b) and Section 22 (2) (h) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Chief Secretary of Nagaland, in the capacity as chairperson, State Executive Committee, has ordered the extension of the existing guidelines with regard to the lockdown to remain operative in Nagaland till June 11, 2021,” an order stated on Friday.

It then directed the respective district deputy commissioners and chairmen of District Task Force on COVID-19 to immediately start community surveillance of people with COVID-19 like symptoms in the rural areas.

 
According to the Home department, it has become extremely necessary to detect and contain the spread of COVID-19 cases from urban to rural areas in the state. The Home department also stated that the state government is investing all efforts to address the situation.

“Community Surveillance of people with COVID-19 like symptoms should be started immediately in the rural areas. Therefore, an immediate exercise of Community Surveillance by DTF in selected villages and further to be scaled up in a phased manner, may be started,” it added.