UPF shares thought on fight against COVID-19 Focus on Myanmar border, Govt asked
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30 2020:
Acknowledging the positive role played by doctors, nurses and para medical staff in successfully treating the two COVID-19 patients in the State as well as the measures taken up to ensure that no new cases come up, the United Peoples' Front, Manipur (UPF) today asserted that strict focus should be paid to the Indo-Myanmar border to ensure that the virus does not spread from the neighbouring country.
In a statement issued to the press today, UPF stated that Manipur shares a 400 km long border with Myanmar and despite the lockdown, the fact that cartons and cartons of cigarettes smuggled in from Myanmar have been impounded should tell a significant story.
The shabby fencing at some border area while leaving the rest free does not portend well for Manipur, it added.
It is not without reason why the rising cases of the disease at the neighbouring country is a cause of concern at Manipur, it added.
Moreover many experts have predicted that the world could see a second wave of the virus once winter sets in and the time is right for the Government to develop a long term vision with an eye on the future.
UPF also pointed out that despite the brave fight put up by the front line workers against the virus, there are some elements who have been taking advantage of the situation to fatten their private purse, best exemplified in the opposing stands adopted over the disbursal of relief materials under different schemes of the Government and this exposes the failure to have a precise procedure in place.
The statement also took serious note of the dearth of PPEs exposing the frontline workers to many dangers and cited the reason example of soiled face masks supplied to the Medical Directorate.
It would be wrong for the State Government to take comfort under the slogan that Manipur is today COVID-19 free, advised UPF and added that so only 435 people have undergone institutionalised quarantine while only 445 people have undergone COVID-19 tests.
This shows that there could be many asymptomatic people, who have the capacity to spread the disease.
The move of the Government to transport the stranded people from Guwahati to Manipur is laudable, but it also stands that mere thermal testing of the arriving people is not enough.
There is the need to make them stay at institutionalised quarantine centres and make them undergo COVID-19 test, it added.
It is also important for all to remember the chaos that was created when the lockdown was relaxed for a few hours some time back, said UPF and added that there is the need to decentralise the market places beyond Thangal Keithel, Paona Keithel, Khwairamband.
The public transport system should also be revamped or else there could be chaos and confusion once the lockdown is lifted, added UPF.
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