Lockdown imposed for 7 days, to be extended if needed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 22 2020: Taking serious note of the rising cases of COVID-19, the State Government has imposed a total lockdown for 7 days as well as curfew to make the lockdown more effective from 2 pm of tomorrow.

The lockdown will be extended by another 7 days, if needed.

The decision to impose the lockdown was taken during a Cabinet meeting convened at the office of the Chief Minister at 2 pm today.

Speaking to reporters straight after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister N Biren said that the lockdown decision was taken for the safety of everyone and in view of the rising cases of COVID-19 .

Lockdown imposed for 7 days, to be extended if needed

The lockdown decision has also been compelled by the irresponsible conduct of some people who have been going for picnic, not adhering to social/physical distancing and on receipt of information that some auto rickshaws have started plying in parts of the State, added the Chief Minister.

Moreover the spread of the virus at Thoubal is also a cause of concern with many points yet to be clear, said the Chief Minister and added that some CRPF personnel have also tested positive for the virus at Kangpokpi besides para-military personnel.

The decision to impose the total lockdown and curfew was taken to flatten the curve and ensure the safety of everyone, added the Chief Minister.

It has also been decided to impose fitting penalties on all those who violate the COVID-19 SOPs and protocols, said the Chief Minister and added that a fine of Rs 1000 will be imposed on those who violate the rules and regulations of quarantine centres.

Those found moving around without face masks will be fined Rs 200, those not maintaining social distancing Rs 200, spitting in public places will attract a fine of Rs 500, he added.

A fine of Rs 200 will also be imposed on those who consume khaini, gutka etc in public places.

Moreover any gathering which exceeds the stipulated number of people will also attract penalties, said the Chief Minister and added that people/family responsible for organising the gathering will be fined Rs 10,000.Another significant decision taken during today's meeting was to engage 100 doctors on a daily pay of Rs 2500 for six months.

Similarly 70 nurses will also be engaged at a daily remuneration of Rs 1000 each while another 60 staff will be engaged for multi-tasking jobs at a daily pay of Rs 500.This is apart from the earlier decision to recruit 300 doctors through the MPSC, said Biren.

Till date a total of 73,000 people have been tested for COVID-19 said the Chief Minister and added this is way higher than the all India figure per million.

In Manipur for every one million 26 thousand is tested while the figure all over the country is 10 thousand, claimed the Chief Minister.

The infection rate all over the country is 8.1 percent while in Manipur it is 2.7 percent.

At the moment, there are 1287 beds at RIMS, JNIMS and CCC, Meitram for COVID-19 patients.

On top of this, steps are on to put 300 to 500 beds at the CCS of Lamboikhongnangkhong, one hundred at Jiribam and another 100 at Kangpokpi.

There are 875 inmates at institutional quarantine centres and 1779 at community quarantine centres, taking the total to 2654 .

To a question, the Chief Minister said that flights and incoming buses will be allowed during the lockdown period and reasoned that since those coming in would not be in thousands as was the case when they came in by trains, control should not be a problem.

The lockdown and curfew will be relaxed for medical, power, drinking water, fire services, police, media and other essential services.