News Analysis India

Tag: Nagaland unlock

  • Nagaland announces fourth phase of unlocking from August 1, shops allowed to open for 12 hours

    By PTI
    KOHIMA: The Nagaland government on Saturday announced the fourth phase of unlocking for 18 days starting Sunday with further relaxations, including allowing more time for shops to open and buses to ply with reduced capacity.

    The first phase of the unlocking was from July 1-7, followed by the second round from July 8-17 and the third period from July 18. The decision for Unlock-4 from August 1-18 was taken during a meeting of the High Powered Committee on COVID-19 headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, an official said.

    The HPC has decided to extend the time for opening of shops to 12 hours, from 6 am to 6 pm. It was earlier permitted till 4 pm. Bus transport services, both private and government, would be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity, he said.

    Further notifications and standard operating procedures for this phase of unlocking would be issued to the respective district task forces on COVID-19, the official said. As of Friday, Nagaland’s coronavirus tally stood at 27,713, of which 25,098 have recovered.

    A total of 561 people have died in the state due to the contagion.

  • 10-day unlock to commence in Nagaland from July 1 

    By PTI
    KOHIMA: After a lockdown for one and a half months, the Nagaland government on Monday decided to begin a 10-day unlock period in the state from July 1, senior minister Neiba Kronu said.

    Addressing a press conference at the State Civil Secretariat here, government spokesperson for COVID-19 and Minister for Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Kronu said, “As the way forward, the High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 has decided to go for Unlock 1 from July 1 to 10”.

    The decision to this effect was taken during a virtual meeting of the HPC on COVID-19, headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, as an outcome of the June 26 video conference interaction of the COVID-19 War Room, headed by Chief Secretary J Alam, with the District Task Force (DTF) on the prevailing coronavirus situation.

    The ongoing lockdown was scheduled to end on June 30, he said.

    The 10-day period from July 1 with more relaxations will be an observation period for unlocking and reducing COVID-19 curbs in the state, Kronu said.

    From July 1, the HPC has decided to provide relaxations, including opening of business establishments and shops on a rotation basis, he said.

    The curfew period or total restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles, earlier imposed from 4 pm to 5 am, has also been reduced.

    It will now be in force from 7 pm to 4 am, considering the agriculture season, he said.

    The respective DTFs will have the powers to further ease or add restrictions considering the local situations, he said.

    Government offices will resume with 50 per cent staff in attendance.

    Churches, weddings, and funeral services will also be permitted with a maximum of 50 people, the minister said.

    Nagaland entered into a total lockdown from May 14, considering the high surge in COVID-19 infections, and it had been extended four times, with relaxations.

    Nagalands COVID-19 positivity rate at the start of the total lockdown to curb the spread of the virus on May 14, was 24.66 per cent, while the overall positivity rate was 10.23 per cent.

    The daily positivity rate has now come down to 8.26 per cent, while the overall positivity rate is 12.8 per cent, said Deputy Director of Health and Family Welfare Department Dr Nyanthung Kikon.

    The state has also improved the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients, from as low as 71.98 per cent on May 17 to 89.14 per cent on Sunday, with the caseload standing at 24,961, of which only 1,523 are active.

    So far, 25,161 COVID-19 patients have been cured of the disease in nagaland.

    The death toll stands at 487 while 700 patients have migrated to other states.

    Kronu, who is also the government spokesperson, said, to avoid future lockdowns, COVID-19 appropriate behaviour should be strictly maintained by all.

    COVID-19 testing and vaccination of people will be carried out in full swing, he said.

    Asked about the opening of educational institutions, Principal Secretary Abhijit Sinha said, the closure of schools, and colleges will continue to remain in force, while there will be no stoppage of trains in the state for the time being.

    The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for “Unlock-1” will be issued by the Home Department, while the respective DTFs have been empowered to take localised decisions, Sinha said.