Total lockdown imposed in Manipur amid increasing Covid cases

Imphal/UNI: Manipur government has imposed a total lockdown in the state from 1400 hours today for one week amid rising Covid cases.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said the decision to impose lockdown was taken by the State Cabinet. It may be extended by another week, if necessary.

Even though there were apprehensions of community spread, especially in Thoubal district, the Chief Minister said it was being suspected.

Cases of people having Covid without travel history were increasing and the two main hospital in the state, RIMS and JNIMS were affected.

RIMS OPD remained closed as some staff and their family members reported positive.

In JNIMS the hostels were closed.

In Manipur University a staff was also reported Covid positive.

Functioning in almost all the government institutes, offices, educational institutes were affected as many people without travel history tested covid positive and had attended offices as they were not aware of their health status.

Even before the government announced a total shutdown, people had started closing down all shops and restricted movement. There were, however, long queues in front of petrol pumps today till 1400 hours.

The Chief Minister announced that all violators will be penalised. He announced the fine for different instances of lockdown violations, for example, any family holding any event will be slapped a fine of Rs 10,000, he said.

So far Manipur has reported 2,105 coronavirus cases with 1600 recoveries.The recovery rate is around 68 per cent and around 73,000 people have been tested for Covid-19 in the state till now, he added.

The Chief Minister also assured that about 500 to 700 beds will be prepared for admitting coronavirus patients.

A new Covid Care Centre (CCC) at Lamboikhongnangkhong, Imphal West with capacity of 300 to 500 will be opened.

The border town of Jiribam where there is railhead will have a new 100 bed Covid Care Centre while Kangpokpi will also have a new 100 bedded CCC, he said.

N. Biren Singh appealed to all to follow the guidelines and around 8000 persons were being quarantined at Institutional Quarantine Centres and around 1700 persons at Community Quarantine Centres.

To look after the new Covid Centres, 300 doctors will be recruited but 100 will be recruited immediately.

About 90 nurses and 60 multi-tasking staffs will also be recruited immediately on contract basis,he said.

Meanwhile, police stopped movement of vehicles and started taking actions against all violators.