The full text is as follows :

“Good evening,

Till date a total of 629 samples have been sent for testing from the State. Results of 613 samples have been received and all are negative. Results for 16 samples are awaited.  Today a total of 1090 persons have been screened and a total of 31 persons are under Facility Quarantine.

Today, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India held a meeting with all the Hon’ble Chief Ministers of States through video conferencing. The Hon’ble Prime Minister appreciated the joint efforts of the Chief Ministers on various fronts, particularly in enforcing the lockdown which has helped in slowing the spread of Novel Corona virus in the country. He however forewarned that the danger of the virus is far from over and urged for constant vigil. Joining the discussion, the Hon’ble Union Home Minister urged the Hon’ble Chief Ministers to ensure that the guidelines of the lockdown are strictly enforced. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland was accompanied by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon’ble Minister Health and Family Welfare, the Hon’ble Minister, Planning and Coordination, the Hon’ble Advisor, Food and Civil Supplies, the Chief Secretary and other senior officials of the State during the video conference with the Hon’ble Prime Minister.

         There have been some apprehensions expressed in certain quarters regarding burial of bodies of persons in the unfortunate event of one’s death due to COVID-19. In this regard I would like  to inform that the Health Department has prepared a Standard Operating Procedure or SOP, which is to be followed by all the Hospitals and all concerned, for preparation of any dead body for safely burying or cremating it, as the case may be, should anybody unfortunately dies due to COVID-19.  All the hospitals and the District Task Forces have been made aware about the details of the SOP and they are suitably prepared for the same. In this context I am happy to say that recently the Naga Council, Dimapur, the Kohima Village Council, the Tangha Village Council in Longleng, have deliberated on the issue of disposal and burial of COVID-19 patients in the event of an unfortunate death, and it has been conveyed that after observing all the standard health safety precautions, the mortal remains of the COVID-19 patient would be buried in the cemetery, or village or burial ground of the family or church, without any discrimination taking utmost care.

          I conclude by soliciting once again the active support of everyone in the State in the fight against COVID -19.”

(DIPR)