Lockdown to be extended till Jul 15
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, June 28 2020: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced that the Government has decided to extend the lockdown for another 15 days, from July 1-15.Speaking to media persons at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today, N Biren said that the Government has also decided to resume inter-district bus service from July 1 by maintaining SOPs and guidelines issued by the Government.

No other public transport system will be allowed during this period, he added.

He appealed to the people to strictly adhere to the SOPs and guidelines issued by the Government to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chief Minister informed that the total number of positive cases is 1094 while 432 cases have been discharged and at present, there are 660 active cases.

Lockdown to be extended till Jul 15

The recovery rate is 39.56 %, he added.

He further maintained that the testing capacity has increased to nearly 2600 tests per day after procuring new machines and engaging more persons.

More than 50,000 samples have been taken, including for re-test and for testing frontline workers till now.

Almost all test results have been declared, he added.

Biren mentioned that in order to supplement testing capacity, TRUENAT machines have been procured.

At present there are two machines in RIMS, one machine at JNIMS, two machines at IRL Imphal, two machines at Senapati, one machine at Tamenglong and one is being installed in Ukhrul.

He added that TRUENAT machine can give about 20 - 35 results per day depending on the capacity and can supplement PCR machines for urgent or vulnerable cases immediately as the result is declared within an hour.

Informing that there is no case of community transmission in the State, the Chief Minister said that almost all positive cases are returnees except seven frontline workers who were in direct contact with positive cases.

Till date, around 43,000 persons have been sent to institutional and community quarantine centres and around 7200 inmates are at present in quarantine centres.

On the present capacity of beds in the State to treat COVID-19 patients, the Chief Minister informed that at present, 150 beds in JNIMS, 100 beds in RIMS, 350 beds in Covid Care Center, Meitram and 100 beds in Ukhrul are functional as COVID care facility, in addition to isolation wards and COVID beds in each district hospital.

He maintained that work is going on for adding another 750 beds in various facilities, namely in Senapati Trauma Centre-50 beds, Imphal West Family Welfare Training Centre-100 beds, Thoubal GNM School-100 beds, Lamboi Khongnangkhong Trade Centre-300 beds, Kangpokpi BIET- 50 beds, Churachandpur NIELIT-100 beds and Tamenglong-50 beds.

The Chief Minister stated that a sum of Rs 10 crore from State Corpus Fund and donation amount of Rs 14.41 crore received through the Chief Minister's COVID-19 Relief Fund are being used in the fight against the disease.

Total expenditure of Rs 18.22 crore have been made for transportation of returnees, purchase of rice, financial assistance to stranded persons and awareness activities, he added.

Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board S Rajen and Yaiskul AC MLA Th Satyabrata were present during the press conference.