Kohima to go under total lockdown for 7 days starting July 25; check details here

Guwahati: Taking cognizance of the sharp spike COVID-19 cases in Nagaland's capital city Kohima, the District Task Force (DTF) has decided to impose a total lockdown in the Kohima municipality area from July 25-31.

During this period, only stores selling commodities (including pharmacies) deemed as "essential" shall be allowed to operate between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. It has also been decided that the vegetable vendors shall only be able to sell their wares in their respective colonies.

The decision to resort to another lockdown has been taken in order to enhance the active surveillance by the CMO coordination team of Kohima and ensure more comprehensive contact tracing, early detection of suspected cases, and isolation measures to slow down the chain of the transmission process and to further contain the spread of the COVID-19 infection.

This comes a day after the Nagaland Government chose not to impose a "total lockdown" in the state, despite calls from several quarters to do so. The High-Powered Committee yesterday held an emergency meeting that was chaired by Neiphiu Rio, the Chief Minister. The demand for a total lockdown was discussed in the meeting, and the dignitaries said that a total lockdown is not a necessity in the state at this juncture.

The High Powered Committee, however, allowed the District Task Force (DTF) in Dimapur and Kohima (by far the most populous districts) to convene a meeting and decide whether or not to impose lockdown to curb the outbreak.

Out of the 513 samples that were examined in Nagaland yesterday, 57 tested positive for the dreaded virus. It has been reported that out of 57 fresh positive cases, 23 infected patients are from Dimapur, 18 cases are from Kohima, 7 from Zunheboto, 5 cases are from Peren, and 2 each are from Mon and Mokokchung respectively, confirmed Nagaland Health minister S Pangnyu Phom.

Earlier, the Northeastern states of Manipur and Sikkim had gone under complete lockdown after the Governments thought it the best course of action in their bids to contain the rapid spread of the contagious disease.

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