With more people opting to return home from different parts of the country in view of COVID-19 pandemic, the government is planning to use hostel facilities of both private schools and colleges to quarantine the returnees for Dimapur district.

To discuss the various issues relating to people returning home, Agriculture Production Commissioner, Nagaland, Y Kikheto Sema, who is also the overall incharge of Dimapur district for all COVID-19 related activities and Secretary, F&CS and Convenor, Core Committee for COVID-19, Dimapur, Honje Konyak held a meeting with All Nagaland Private School Association, All Nagaland Private College Association and DEO Dimapur, at Commissioner's Rest House, Dimapur on 11th May 2020.

During the meeting, APC, briefed the gathering on arrangements that are being made for the people returning from outside. He said that with more and more people registering to return home which comes up to more than 8000 people for Dimapur alone,  the government facilities only will not be able to accommodate all. He therefore appealed the private schools and colleges to come in to the  rescue  by providing or allowing their hostels to be used as quarantine centres assuring that all necessary requirements will be looked after by the government. He also maintained that proper medical screening will be done upon their arrival and suspected COVID-19 positive people will be kept at the isolation wards. Calling on for collective effort in fight against COVID-19, APC informed that quarantine facilities for around 1500-2000 people at the hostels of private colleges and 3500-4000 people at private schools were expected to which the association President's gave feedback on a positive note.   Schools and colleges who are not in the association will also be approached by the core committee, it was decided.

Presidents of both private schools and colleges were nominated as member of core committee while one member each from both the association were nominated as accommodation committee members during the meeting.

(Watimenla, IA Dimapur)