Nagaland govt decides to close down free quarantine facilities after surge in Covid-19 cases

Dimapur, July 11 (HS)  With 59 fresh cases recorded on Friday, Nagaland has crossed 700 mark of confirmed Covid-19 cases. The number of total confirmed cases stands at 732 out of which 428 are active and 304 recovered.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom in two tweets, on Saturday, said- “23 cases were detected in the morning while another 36 persons were found positive in the afternoon. Among them, 20 are in Kohima, 19 in Peren, 18 in Dimapur and one each in Wokha and Phek.”

Sources in medical department said that only one person out of the 59 positive person today is not from Quarantine Centre. He hails from Jotsoma village of Kohima district.

Meanwhile, the High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19 under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has decided to turn all Quarantine centers into paid facilities. And COVID-19 testing facility will also be chargeable very soon.

Sources said that state government has spent Rs 24.15 crore till now to set up and maintain all the Quarantine centers across Nagaland including food, also most of the returnees have already reached and are about to complete Quarantine period.

The HPC has decided to stop free quarantine facilities in the state. Also the COVID-19 testing will be charged with a nominal rate in the state, informed state spokesperson for COVID-19, and adviser IT, Science & Technology, NRE, Mmhonlumo Kikon.

“The effective date for this new HPC decision to be declared soon”, he said.

Kikon further stated that new uniform SOP for all the districts will be issued within three days in accordance with the new decision taken by the HPC.