Despite the surge in COVID-19 cases in Nagaland, the State government once again decided not to impose statewide total lockdown, but has empowered the respective District Task Force on COVID-19 to make its own decisions.
The decision to this effect was taken during an emergency meeting of the High Power Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 chaired by Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio and co-chaired by Deputy CM, Y Patton today in Kohima. Nagaland Government Spokesperson on COVID-19, Minister Neiba Kronu said that taking into the COVID-19 situation in other districts, the HPC was of the view that statewide total lockdown was not needed at the present moment.
However, Kronu said the HPC meeting while considering the various recommendations and also heightened demand of total lockdown from civil society organizations in Dimapur and Kohima, has decided to empower the respective DTF of the two districts to discuss and take decisions as per the need at district level.
He also said the HPC has advised the DTFs to consider the ensuing Assembly session and grant proper exemptions for smooth conduct of the session.
Meanwhile, sources said that following the government’s advisory, the Kohima DTF will be holding a meeting on Thursday to take final decision on total lockdown.
Mention may be made here that the expressing alarm over the rising sporadic COVID-19 cases in various colonies of Kohima, the Kohima Village Council had urged the Government to impose ‘total lockdown’ in the State capital for two weeks to prevent the virus from spreading and break the chain of infection.
The Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) on Tuesday while setting 5 days deadline for Kohima DTF to impose total lockdown in Kohima municipality lest they would be compelled to resort to self-imposition of total lockdown from July 27.
Asked about today’s meeting with the Kohima DTF, AKMWP president Neibulie Kiewhuo said that initially the meeting decided to wait for the outcome of the HPC meeting.
“Since the HPC has now empowered the Kohima DTF to make its own decision on the need for total lockdown, we are hopeful that a notification will be issued by DTF by Thursday at least for a week-long total lockdown in the state capital,” Kiewhuo said.
(Page News Service)