Joykisan asks for common protocol
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 19 2020:
Expressing deep concern over the continuous surge in the number of COVID-19 positive cases in the State, Congress MLA Kh Joykisan has urged the State Government to come out with a common protocol which would be applied equally to the public as well as VVIPs and VIPs who come back from outside the State.
Speaking to media persons at his Khoyathong residence today, Joykisan said that people are deeply worried over the incessant spike in COVID-19 cases in the State which has a very small population.
He then urged the Government to announce a protocol which should be followed by Ministers, MLAs and the public if they are coming back to the State from outside.
All the people who come back to the State should be treated equally irrespective of their caste, religion or community.
There is no guarantee that COVID-19 would not spread to the public if a high profile individual or VVIP gets infected by the virus, Joykisan said.
Pointing out that COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, the Congress legislator remarked that separate protocols applied to VVIPs, doctors, police officers and the general public have created confusion among the masses.
In another word, there is a big loophole in the safety and preventive measures taken up by the Government, he said.
Sometime back, a few VIPs came to Manipur.
They stayed at Imphal for some days and went back.
Some Ministers of Manipur too went to Delhi and came back.
After reaching Imphal, they left for either their respective homes or hotels but it was not very clear, Joykisan remarked while asking if VIPs are immune to COVID-19 and there is any guarantee that they would not spread the virus to common people.
"Even though I am an MLA, I am confused whether there are separate COVID-19 protocols for VIPs and the common people", he confided.
Saying that Ministers generally meet more people than MLAs, Joykisan asked if the people who met Ministers after their (Ministers) return from Delhi are safe.
He also expressed surprise over the people's growing laxity against COVID-19 when the positive cases have been surging continuously in the State.
The MLA further wondered what would happen to Manipur if the contagion goes out of control.
Even though the Chief Minister formed a consultative committee to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, some key Ministers were not present at a meeting of the committee because they were not happy with the leadership of the incumbent Chief Minister, claimed the Congress MLA.
Categorically stating that it would be wrong to stay away from the battle against COVID-19 due to political reasons, Joykisan appealed to the Ministers concerned to attend meetings of the consultative committee.
He appealed to all concerned to work collectively so as to avert community transmission of COVID-19 in the State.
Out of three quarantine centres opened for Thangmeiband AC, two have been closed.
One is still opened at DM College of Teachers' Education and residents of Thangmeiband AC who come back from outside the State would be admitted in the quarantine centre till July 31 .
The centre would remain opened until their quarantine period is over.
However, those people who come back after July 31 should find accommodation in quarantine centres opened by the Government, Joykisan added.
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