ITANAGAR, May 3: A seven-member high-level team led by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein was on a two-day visit to the districts of eastern Arunachal along the Arunachal-Assam boundaries to take stock of the administrations’ planning, preparedness and implementation of Covid-19 response activities.
The team, which included Health Minister Alo Libang, MP Tapir Gao, state BJP president Biyuram Wahge, Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom, Health Secretary P Parthiban, and Disaster Management Secretary Dani Salu, visited Deomali (Tirap), Changlang and Namsai on 2 May.
On 3 May, the team visited Roing in Lower Dibang Valley, Pasighat in East Siang, and Likabali in Lower Siang district.
The team held review meetings with the administrations of all the districts.
Mein informed that the state government as well as the Centre is continuously monitoring the preparedness and management of Covid-19 in the state.
He asked the administrations to “keep a vigil at the check gates on the entry and movement of stranded people and students who would be returning home from various places.”
He advised the administrations to check every person who would be returning to the districts, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“Since Arunachal has been categorized as a green zone, the day-to-day and economic activities as per the MHA guidelines have to be allowed by the district administrations to help the small growers and business traders,” Mein said.
He requested the administrations to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, and to sensitize the people to wear masks and maintain physical distancing.
The DCM commended the Lohit district administration “for the resilience, hard work, dedication and commitment shown by it in dealing with the lone Covid-19 positive case of the state.”
Mein said there would be no dearth of funds in the fight against Covid-19 in the state. “The state government will ensure availability of sufficient funds for the fight against Covid-19,” he said.
Libang said the coming days would be crucial “as many stranded people would be returning home from outside, which could also be from hotspot zones.”
He directed the district administrations to “initiate planning for check and quarantine process, among others.”
Gao expressed hope that the administrations are fully prepared and equipped to deal with the situation which would arise when people and students return.
The DCs and the DMOs apprised the high-level team of their strategies and experiences; actions taken so far; isolation and quarantine facilities; emergency services pressed into operation; measures taken to ensure supply of essential goods to the people; and the numbers of people who are under quarantine.
The team visited the dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Pasighat, and inspected the Covid control rooms, the mobile Covid-19 sample collection kiosks at the check gates, the Covid care centres, isolation wards, and the quarantine centres in Deomali, Changlang, Namsai, Roing and Pasighat. (DCM’s PR Cell)
