More seriousness needed to fight COVID -19
- Imphal Times Editorial :: March 21 2020 -

Number of fatalities due to COVID 19 today reaches 5 , with an Italian succumbing at Fortis Hospital in Jaipur.

Total affected person also reaches 219 at the time of filling this story and in the state of Manipur 3 more suspected case has been reported, one has been reportedly admitted at RIMS isolation ward and another two at JNIMS.

As of now whether these suspected has been confirmed positive or not is not officially known.

Interestingly, number of blood sample collected and which finally turn out to be negative is only 15+3 including the new one and the initial report confirmed that the deadly virus has not reached the state of Manipur.

Official statement is base on their record and they have not mentioned anything about the number of blood sample tested so far.

With a central team, along with a representative of the WHO visited the state yesterday, and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special concern on this issue, the state government seems to accelerate the precautionary measures being taken up.

Hours long meeting was convened at Manipur Secretariat conference and review the kind of precautionary measures being taken up by the state government.

And today Chief Minister himself visited Khwairamband Keithel Ima Market area to take stock of the situation there.

Earlier he had brief reporters about the measures to avoid coronavirus from reaching the state and what is more interesting is the appealed by the Opposition Leader Okram Ibobi Singh to take up extra precautionary measures to prevent the virus from spreading in the state.

India government seriousness to tackle the situation is well noted with its decision to ban all international flights from Sunday, March 22 for a week.

The extreme step was taken to control the spread of COVID 19 from other countries.

The seriousness of the union government should also be reflected to the state government and should take similar steps like the one taken up by the Union government.

It is suggested to bar all road transport for a stipulated time until a solution is discovered to cure the disease.

There is high chances that a patient carrying the virus may not show fever during their entry to our state.

If a total lockdown is not possible anyone coming from infected states should be kept in quarantine for 14 days.

We should treat Manipur as a mini India and take steps similar to what Union government has taken up.

Saying so it will be next to impossible to even think about closing of the Khwairamband Keithel if it can be done to some commercialized shopping malls.

The government should make temporary installation of hand wash basins in and around the Kwairamband keithel area and spread awareness to people to have compulsory hand wash at the basins.

Hand sanitizers should be distributed at the women vendors if possible.

While taking up this measures, the government should also think of those living on hand to mouth.

All know that these people is left with no option but to come out to the market place for a day meal.

Government should try to take up some special programme to make sure that Rice being distributed under the PDS be reached at their door so that they can stay t home as desire by the state government.

It is also important that passenger vehicles like diesel auto should be check and bar from carrying passenger in limited numbers.

Above all these government should clean the piled up garbage from crowded area as well as at other residential area.

And a priority to test maximum people may be helpful.