Arunachal Pradesh agriculture and horticulture minister Tage Taki reviewed the preparedness and public awareness on COVID-19 in Lower Subansiri district at the deputy commissioner’s office in Ziro on Monday.
The district’s DMO, Tage Kanno briefed minister Tage Taki about the scenario.
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Reiterating the need for social distancing, Dr Kanno said the home quarantine of people who have come from outside the state is the primary concern and the top priority.
“All our preparations will go in vain if we are unable to track and monitor the health conditions of these people,” he said.
He requested the NGOs and village welfare committee members to help the district administration and the District Health Society to trace these people, especially those who arrived at Ziro before the thermal screening at Yazali on March 21 and in cases requiring special interventions.
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“The entire Ziro plateau has been divided into four zones. Each zone is being manned by a magistrate, doctor and few health workers. These teams are responsible for tracking and monitoring the quarantined people,” he added.
“However, the barricades erected by almost all the villages to prevent trespassing during the lockdown period have prevented our teams from carrying out their duties,” he said, requesting the village welfare committee members to allow passage to the teams.
Responding to barricade issue, the minister directed all concerned for erecting temporary gates with strict signage.
“There shouldn’t be any restrictions on the movement of medical, administration or police teams,” he said.
“However, social distancing is more important than erecting gates,” he added while appealing to all the denizens of Ziro to stay at their homes.
He further suggested appointing supervisors in all the clans to identify people with a travel history and inform the nodal officer of COVID-19 for effective monitoring.
“The identification process should be done on the telephone,” he said, cautioning the volunteers and supervisors against moving around in the village.
He also provided Rs 2 lakh for procurement of essential requirements for the health workers.
Deputy Commissioner Chukhu Takar, SP Hemant Tiwari, ADC Nending Chatung, TSD President Hage Tado, representative from AYA, ASU and Village Development Committee attended the meeting, which was arranged as per social distance norms.
Meanwhile, as the lockdown entered the seventh day, Ziro witnessed total cooperation from the public. The roads had no vehicular or public movement.
The door-to-door delivery service that started on March 26 has so far delivered 821 orders for essential items and 456 LPG cylinders till the filing of this report. Racho Kacho, AYA General Secretary, Tania Uli, OC and the UD department provided the gloves and masks to the delivery boys.
This initiative is backed by the volunteers of Apatani Youth Association, Apatani Baptist Association, BJP Yuva Morcha and Hapoli Bazaar Committee.
In Yachuli, committees led by an administrative officer have been constituted to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities. The shops have been directed to open between 9.30 am and 3pm. Care has been taken to demarcate social distancing for the customers.
On the medical front, all people with travel history from outside the state are being home quarantined.
“In case of any refusal for home quarantine the individual can be shifted to the quarantine facilities at Old Ziro Guest House and Old Ziro Tourist Lodge for Ziro-I and Circuit House Yazali and Forest Circuit House, Yachuli for Ziro-II,” Dr Kanno said.
“An isolation centre has been established at District Tuberculosis Centre at Ziro,” Dr Kanno added.
He also said the normal OPD has been suspended temporarily in Gyati Takka General Hospital and flu clinics opened. However, emergency services shall be continued and the OPDs of CHCs and PHCs shall function normally.
Also, the hospital administration has decided to allow telephonic consultation for minor ailments at 9862886893.