5 more COVID cases; state’s tally rises to 9
HUGE OUTCRY AFTER RETURNEE DEPORTED BEFORE RESULT OF COVID TEST
Lending credence to widespread apprehensions among public, five more from those stranded persons who returned from Chennai on May 22, were tested positive for COVID-19 and taking the COVID tally in Nagaland to nine (9) as on May 27.
In a shocking revelation of breach of protocol under Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), one of the five returnees whose test result was confirmed as COVID-19 positive on Wednesday, had already left Kohima for Tuensang on Tuesday by bus along other returnees. The departure of the 150 returnees by bus- one to Mokokchung and five to Tuensang- on Tuesday, had already sparked off outrage as they were supposed to remain under quarantine till test results were out.
Hours later when test results were out by Wednesday morning, one of the returnees travelling in one of the five buses to Tuensang was tested positive for COVID-19. This snowballed into a huge controversy as government functionaries virtually washed their hands off any responsibility for authorising the departure. There appeared to be confusion among officials with regard to SOP protocols to be followed.
State government spokesperson and minister Neiba Kronu in formed Nagaland Post that the cabinet at its May 25 meeting, had made no decision about sending back returnees before testing results were out. Kronu also disclosed that the cabinet had on Wednesday decided to make it mandatory to conduct COVID-19 tests on all returnees and will be allowed to proceed to their respective districts only after test results are out.
When contacted, general secretary of Yimchunger Tribal Council (YTC) Laji Luyanba described the deportation as “discriminatory” and unacceptable.
Luyanba said when it was learnt that the returnees would be transported to Tuensang, Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) approached the chief minister to intervene but by the time the travel could be stopped, the buses had already reached Wokha.
He said the H&FW department was asked to make the buses to return back to Kohima but it was not heeded to. Even the ENLU members at the COVID War Room had attempted to make the buses return but were informed that the returnees were allowed to leave after being certified as healthy (without any symptoms) by the medical team at the quarantine centres.
Further, Luyanba claimed that the returnees were not made to maintain social distancing but packed inside the buses and feared that many would be infected by the virus.
He expressed resentment at the failure of the government and the department for the entire circumstances.
Luyanba also implied that a recent statement issued by the Kohima Village Council (KVC) wherein the latter had allegedly used the term “dumping” returnees of seven districts as being harsh and inhumane.
He reminded that Kohima is the capital for every Naga tribe and not for any particular tribe and there was no comparison with Eastern Nagaland areas in development.
Luyanba also felt that there should have been segregation of all returnees based on three COVID-19 zones– Red, Orange and Green. Instead, he said, all returnees were clubbed together regardless of which zone each of them came from. He felt this was an ill motive to cause harm on all.
The YTC general secretary also pointed out that Tuensang district had shortage of doctors and health workers and also lacked adequate infrastructure. Therefore, there was no point in having quarantine centres without proper medical facilities, he said.
Luyanba also said the action of the department(H&FW) and the earlier statement made by the chief secretary were contradictory. He said despite the statement of the chief secretary that the government would not respond to the demands of CSOs; on the other hand, arrangements were made to deport all returnees from Chennai to their respective districts without following the SOPs.
Luyanba also alleged that returnees were given their last meal on the evening of May 25 but were not given any food before leaving by bus from Kohima on May 26.
He also said the treatment meted out to the returnees only implied that Eastern Nagas were not part of Nagaland as the people of Eastern Nagaland were unhappy. Further, he said ENPO would take a call over the issue on May 28 along with ENLU members.
Meanwhile considering the limited intake capacity of quarantine centres in Kohima the state government was actively considering Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima as a quarantine centre.
Results of 319 samples awaited
Out of 1506 COVID-19 suspected samples sent for testing on Wednesday, 9 have tested positive and 1178 samples negative, while results of 319 are awaited.
Further, out of 48 samples tested by TrueNat machine, 47 turned out negative, while the result of one was awaited.
Mandatory test before sending returnees to dists
Returnees bound for other districts and who are initially quarantined at the quarantine facilities at Dimapur and Kohima would be sent to their respective districts only after testing them for COVID-19 and obtaining the results.
Mentioning that this was decided at a meeting held under the chairmanship of chief minister Neiphiu Rio at Kohima on Wednesday to discuss inter-district transfer of returnees from other States, principal secretary (home) Abhijit Sinha said health & family welfare (H&FW) department would inform the status of tests of the returnees to Kohima and Dimapur district taskforces on time, after which the districts would make the travel plan accordingly.
In a letter to Dimapur and Kohima deputy commissioners, who are also chairmen of their respective district taskforces, Sinha directed that there should be proper coordination between the sending and the receiving districts, along with arrangements for necessary refreshments en mute, if required. He suggested that project directors of DRDAs of the districts falling on the way could be assigned with proper instructions for making arrangements for refreshments/food.
The principal secretary ordered that plans for sending the returnees to their districts should be prepared at least one day in advance with proper intimation to the minister/adviser assigned to the districts, the war room and the Empowered Group for better coordination.