CM Pema Khandu during the video conferencing on Tuesday.

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday announced that two Covid-19 hospitals will be set up in the state soon.

He said that one would come up in Itanagar for the western zone and another in Pasighat which would cater to patients from the eastern zone of the state.

The Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun is at present the lone Covid-19 hospital of the state.

Khandu on Tuesday held a video conferencing with the members and district presidents of state BJP Mahila Morcha with regard to fight against coronavirus pandemic in the state.

He said that an Ayurveda institute in Pasighat has been identified as Covid-19 hospital while a suitable place will be identified for Itanagar somewhere in an isolated area.

“This is to let the TRIHMS attend to normal patients,” the chief minister said.

Khandu informed that due to risk of virus entering Arunachal through a potential carrier coming from outside the state, eleven check gates along the Assam-Arunachal border has been made operational while rest has been closed.

“The frontline workers on duty in these check gates are being provided with all safety kits and equipment,” he said.

The chief minister also said the state will have no shortage of personal protection equipments (PPEs) and order will be placed for more number of kits so that it is made available in plenty.

Earlier, in his interaction with the Mahila Morcha members, Khandu urged them to spread words on social distancing, on mandatory use of face mask outside the homes, and on maintaining all safety guidelines.

Khandu also urged the party members to spread word to people on being cautious and to maintain safety measures if any day lockdown is lifted.

He said once the lockdown is lifted, people stranded outside the state will start to rush in and that is when strict measures are to be in place to stop spread of virus.

Among others the video conferencing was also attended by BJP Mahila Morcha state president Higio Aruni.

This is the third video conferencing of chief minister Khandu with the party members on coronavirus within this month.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]