CM declares house-to-house testing, total night curfew
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, July 09 2021:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday announced that health officials would visit every household and conduct random COVID-19 testing of at least one member of the family in addition to stringent enforcement of curfew.
He also asserted that if one person in a family was found infected then all the family members would be tested, while adding that the government would be sponsoring the meals for all infected people staying at Covid Care Centres and hospitals.
Amid the relentless spread of the infectious disease in the state, the CM made the announcement during an inspection of the two-day mass vaccination camp for women vendors of three Ima Keithel and a temporary market held at Ima Market No.3 of Khwairamband Keithel.
Biren said that the Delta variant of the virus has been detected in the state and as such, getting vaccinated is the only way to stay protected from the virus.
Moreover, the government will be reinventing the existing policy including mandatory testing of all household members if one is found infected.
These measures have been decided after thorough discussion with experts and health officials, he said, adding that an official order would be issued shortly in this regard.
Maintaining that the government would take up stringent preventive measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease in the state, the Chief Minister said that night curfew would be clamped more stringently with certain relaxations during day time.
The CM also informed that no family mem-bers/attendants would be allowed to support or assist the patients who are undergoing medical treatment at Covid Care Centres (CCCs) and hospitals, considering that the number of rising cases is due to negligence on part of the family members.
No family members would be required to provide meals for patients at hospitals/CCCs as meals would be arranged by the government, he added.
Regarding the markets, the CM said that it is impossible to continue closing down the commercial establishments indefinitely and also the vendors have never been barred from opening shops after getting vaccinated.
The vaccination programme was organised to ensure all of the vendors get vaccinated, he added.
"So far, 8 lakh people have been vaccinated, with the vaccination rate being the highest in the past 2-3 days," he remarked.
Seeking support and cooperation of the public in the fight against COVID-19, Biren appealed to the people to come out and get vaccinated for protection against the dreaded disease.
Advisor to CM (Health) Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, principal secretary (Health) V Vumlunmang, DC Imphal West Th Kirankumar, director (MAHUD) Th Harikumar, Chief Medical Officer, Imphal West, officials of Health department and others were present during the inspection.
The two-day mass vaccination camp for Ima market vendors on July 9 and 10 is being organised jointly by Imphal West district administration and Chief Medical Officer.
Later, the Chief Minister inspected the mass vaccination drive being organised by Students' Union Club, Kontha Khabam and COVID-19 Task Force 2/20 at Ibemcha High School, Khabam and Mongjam community hall in Imphal East.