The Kohima District Task Force on Covid-19 has resolved to suggest the Nagaland government the need to continue statewide lockdown.

The third review meeting for the district task force was convened by Nagaland minister for housing and mechanical Tongpang Ozukum and adviser to urban development and municipal affairs Dr Nicky Kire at the Kohima District Planning and Development Board hall on Saturday.

The meeting felt that the statewide lockdown was necessary along with sealing of all interstate entry points in the state to combat the virus.

The 21-day nationwide lockdown will be over on April 14.

However, all the chief ministers during interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing on Saturday suggested extension of the nationwide lockdown for two more weeks.

All the legislators of Kohima district, all Angami frontal organisations and task force members attended the meeting, said a statement.

The meeting also resolved to suggest the state government to work out some modalities so that the students and workers, who are stranded at Kohima, can travel to their respective districts.

It agreed to the strict implementation of social distancing, particularly during the designated time for shopping and the constitution of a core committee to coordinate with the villages on availability and distribution of essential commodities.

Deliberating on the availability of water supply in Kohima district from different sources, the meeting decided to form a separate core committee to monitor the supply of sufficient water to the public.

Ozukum and Kire lauded the efforts of the district administration, medical department, police, media persons and all other workers who are on the frontline in the fight against the deadly virus.

They also acknowledged the Angami Public Organisation and all other apex organisations of the district, particularly the Angami Youth Organisation, their cooperation and helping the task force in maintaining a strict vigil during this lockdown period.

The district task force, headed by the minister, visited the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, which was recently converted into a Covid-19 hospital, to inquire about the preparedness to combat the pandemic.

Nagaland deputy chief minister Y. Patton’s appeal

Nagaland deputy chief minister Y. Patton on Sunday said the state government along with the frontline workers and all other stakeholders have been working tirelessly round the clock to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in the state ever since the start of the nationwide lockdown.

In his message to the people, Patton thanked the frontline workers for their sacrifices during the trying times.

He appealed to every citizen of the state to adhere to all the guidelines and advisories issued by the government from time to time and not to be complacent even though there is no report of any positive cases in the state so far.

Likya Self Help Group’s gesture

On the occasion of Easter Sunday, Likya Self Help Group extended moral and prayer support to the frontline workers, who are rendering selfless service to combat Covid-19, so that they get motivated during this crisis period.

Likya Self Help Group, comprising seven women, offered refreshment to all the policemen and traffic personnel on duty from the Chumukedima stretch of National Highway 29 to Dillai gate and New Field check gate.

To embrace the spirit of Easter Sunday, the group played Easter songs while serving them the refreshment.

The SHG members also visited the East police station, traffic police office, West police station and all the media houses to encourage and motivate them as they continue to fight the pandemic.

Bhadra Gogoi is Northeast Now Correspondent in Nagaland. He can be reached at: [email protected]