Still no exact figure on total number of locally transmitted cases
Out of 1197 active cases, 502 are CAPF personnel: CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 05 2020: As COVID-19 cases among people with no significant travel history continue to surge in the past few days, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has appealed people not to be panicky and be committed towards preventing the spread by adopting the safety guidelines sincerely and effectively.

Addressing the people of the State, the Chief Minister in his message urged people to practise social distancing, wear face masks and wash hands with soap.

Out of 1197 active cases, 502 are CAPF personnel: CM

"With the increase in the number of COVID positive (active) cases to 1197, we are all concerned and each person should recommit to adopt the COVID preventive actions of social distancing, wearing face masks and washing hands with soap.

All social gatherings should be avoided.

I thank the public for the cooperation and support for social distancing shown in the last few weeks," N Biren Singh said in his message to the people.

The Chief Minister maintained that 502 cases of the 1197 are army and CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) personnel and the remaining 695 are from the general population.

Yesterday, the Chief Secretary had a meeting with senior officers of the Army and the CAPF to ensure that the security forces enhance their COVID prevention actions.

An SoP has been agreed wherein each force will designate a Nodal officer and also earmark quarantine and COVID care facility for their men.

No personnel will be sent out for duty unless COVID negative status is clear, the CM said.

Stating that there have been positive cases within the Police Department also, N Biren said contact tracing and testing of the personnel are being taken up aggressively.

Over 840 police personnel and contacts have already been tested.

To scale up testing, a dedicated sample collection/testing team is being set up using Police Department doctors and health care workers.

Contact tracing and testing are being taken up wherever positive cases are detected.

Today a State level team of senior doctors have reached Chandel district to assist and support the district team.

The Government has also decided to increase the number of sample collection/testing teams in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.

The State Government had procured 20,000 ICMR approved Rapid Antigen Test kits.

To scale up, another 50,000 kits will be procured.

Further, the State Cabinet has decided to engage 100 doctors immediately to meet urgent requirements, said N Biren Singh.

Meanwhile, the State Government has spared no efforts to increase the number of COVID Care Centres.

At present, there are 1636 beds available in all, including 469 beds at CCC Lamboi Khongnang-khong and 70 beds at CCC Kangpokpi.

Further, the COVID beds at JNIMS (100 nos) and RIMS (47 nos) will be earmarked for treatment of symptomatic/severe COVID positive patients.

With this streamlining, it is expected that RIMS and JNIMS will reactivate their non-COVID services, including OPD, maternity services, etc, he said.

While panic does not help, each person must strictly adopt the social distancing norm to tackle COVID-19 successfully, he added.