The full text on the briefing on COVID-19 for Nagaland given by State Spokesperson for Covid-19 and Minister Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue, Neiba Kronu as of 2nd April, 2020 is as follows :

“Today the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India held a meeting through Video conference with all the Chief Ministers to review the COVID -19 situation. In the Video Conference which was also attended by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland, the Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke about the need for effectively enforcing the lockdown measures and also stressed upon the need for giving utmost focus on tracing, isolation and quarantine measures so as to successfully prevent the spread of the Virus. The improvement in the medical infrastructure that has to be carried out urgently by getting the requisite medical equipments and accessories by all the States was also discussed, as well as the need for having dedicated COVID-19 Hospitals.

Following the Video Conference of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland also held a Video Conference with all the DC’s / SP’s and CMO’s of the 11 Districts, wherein detailed status report of the preparedness of the district regarding COVID-19 pandemic was obtained. The CMO’s also briefed Chief Minister on the improvements that have been carried out in the hospitals and  on the availability of the Medical Equipments and other accessories etc as on date. The Hon’ble Chief Minister asked all the officials of the district to keep a strict vigil on the situation and also keep taking up suitable measures to ensure that the situation is kept under control.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package was announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India concerning insurance scheme for Health Workers fighting COVID-19 in Government Hospitals and Health Care Centres, whereby any health professional who, while treating COVID-19 patients meets with some accident, will be compensated with an amount of Rs. 50 Lakh. I am happy to inform that the Government of Nagaland announces that an additional amount of Rs. 10 Lakhs will be compensated for all such workers by the State Government.

Today, a team from Department of Health & Family Welfare led by the Principal Director, Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie, visited Mon, Longleng & Tuensang districts to oversee the designated Covid-19 quarantine facilities and hospitals. They also interacted with the District Administration and District health authorities.

As regard the tracking of all the individuals from the State of Nagaland about whom information were received of the possibility of either having attended the Nizamuddhin Markaj religious congregation or having been in close vicinity of that place, in New Delhi, where some COVID-19 positive cases have been reported, I would like to inform you that till now contacts have been established with 48 such individuals and out of this, 20 are outside Nagaland. Out of remaining 28, there are only 2 who had attended the congregation, and they have been put under quarantine at our facilities. Further the samples of these two persons were also sent for testing and it has been found negative. As regard the remaining individuals, they are those who were in the vicinity of that area where congregation was held or had just crossed that location, and they are under home quarantine and none of them are exhibiting any symptoms  

I would like to further inform you that so far, as of 4:00 PM today, 40 samples have been sent for testing and results for 32 samples have been obtained which are negative. The result of 8 samples are awaited.

Further another consignment of essential medical equipment and accessories which was flown in from Delhi to Guwahati yesterday by Indian Airlines has reached Kohima.

With regard to availability of food and essential commodities, the situation continues to remain normal. The District Administration has again been told to monitor the prices and keep the same under control

I conclude by once again seeking your continued cooperation and support for the various measures imposed for enforcing lockdown in the State.”

(Maongtemjen, IA)