ITANAGAR, Mar 13: Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on Friday during a video conference with the deputy commissioners of all the districts reviewed the precautionary measures being taken against Covid-19 in each district.
He asked the DCs to screen all passengers entering their districts, based on the standard operating procedure issued by the health department, apart from setting up control rooms for Covid-19 in the districts.
Kumar instructed the DCs to “earmark separate areas as ‘flu corners’ for screening suspected cases of Covid-19 in the district headquarters,” and to procure thermal scanners.
The CS also informed them about the government’s order to ban the movement of people in the free movement regime (FMR).
The FMR allows citizens of India and Myanmar to travel upto a distance of 16 kms on either side of the border. Entries from neighbouring Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal have been regulated.
“The DCs will soon be empowered to take penal action against people who do not abide by the rules provided,” the CS said.
He stressed on creating awareness on personal hygiene and respiratory etiquette in the local dialects, and on disseminating information through all channels of the media.
Health Secretary P Parthiban informed that 18 Arunachalees have been identified as having visited Covid-19 affected countries, “out of which the state surveillance unit has tracked 16 people.
“Thirteen of them are still outside the state,” he said, and informed that surveillance measures have been set up at the railway station, the helipad, and the Pasighat airport.
Parthiban informed that six quarantine facilities for Covid-19 cases have been identified in the state, at the de-addiction centre in Charju (Tirap), the girls’ hostel of IGJ, Pasighat (East Siang), the Scouts & Guides dormitory in Naharlagun, the circuit house in Mahadevpur (Namsai), the forest guest house in Tezu (Lohit), and the girls’ hostel in Bomdila (West Kameng).
He said four trained representatives from each district will visit their respective districts to create further awareness, and added that “sample collection kits will soon be available in the districts.”
Tourism Secretary Sadhana Deori informed about the suspension of issuing protected area permits, and said advisories have been issued to regulate the issuing of inner line permits to “tourists coming from endemic states.”
Disaster Management Secretary Dani Sulu directed the DCs to “identify at least five facilities each for quarantine of suspected cases and isolation of confirmed cases, and five facilities in reserve.”
The deputy commissioners were also asked to visit the quarantine facilities and ensure that the facilities are well-prepared and well-equipped. (CS’ PR Cell)
