Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi on Monday took stock of the coronavirus situation in the State.
The Governor held a meeting held with the chief secretary, director general of police, officials of Health and Family Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies, Disaster Management, Transport departments and Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts and Guides at durbar hall of Raj Bhavan.
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The Governor emphasized that the men and machinery of the government should be fully deployed to mitigate the emergent situation arising out of COVID-19.
Prof Mukhi said considering the status of the pandemic in other advanced countries and the number of infected persons that is rising very alarmingly with every passing day in those countries, the situation in India presumably is very controlled.
However, complete lock down for 21 days to keep the people of the country in doors, away from social gathering is essential to contain and control the outbreak of the virus.
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The Governor also said he has come across reports where the doctors and the para medical staff living on rented apartments are being asked by the landlords to vacate the houses.
Under such circumstances, the Governor asked the DGP to take stern actions against the landlords and ensure the safety of the health workers and take necessary steps so that the infection cannot spread.
The Governor said migratory population is a major problem and he will also take up the matter with the chief ministers of the respective states and the Home Department to deal with it.
The Governor also said he had a talk with all the vice chancellors of the Universities and accordingly online classes are to be imparted to the students.
The chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said the Government is taking utmost care to circulate the advisories given by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The government is also motivating people to stay indoors and coordinating with the Indian railways for carriage and supply essential goods.
Additional chief secretary, Home and Political, Jishnu Barua apprised on the constitution of various State Level Task Forces and meetings conducted at various levels to tackle the outbreak of the pandemic in the State.
He also said steps were taken for sanitization of municipal areas with disinfectant through fire and emergency services and with the help of Municipal Corporation of the State.
Principal Secretary Samir Sinha while apprising the Governor on the preparedness of the Health department to deal with situation arising from novel coronavirus outbreak in other parts of the country, said though no suspected cases have been detected, the Health department is ready to face any contingency.
High level ‘State Task Force’ meetings by chief secretary on daily basis is being conducted to keep a strict vigil on everyday situation.
Also daily meetings with consultants, WHO and UNICEF personnel to review the progress and frame strategy are being conducted to deal with the situation.
Work force has also been expanded by deployment of MBBS, BDS and BSc Nursing students.
He also said 42 thousand ASHA workers are working in the grass root level and are generating mass awareness and disseminating widespread IEC activities.
Additional chief secretary, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Syeuddin Abbasi highlighted that daily video conferences are being held with DCs and SPs to take stock of the situation.
He also said three advisories detailing the Standard Operating Procedure for supply chain maintenance of essential items including food grains, vegetables, edible oils, pulses, LPG, etc, have been circulated for guidance of district authorities.
Director general of police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta gave a detailed presentation of the activities carried out by the police personnel.
Commissioner and secretary, ASDMA, M S Manivannan said Rs 10 lakh each has been given to CEO, ASDMA for onward transfer to Assam House for meeting the expenditure incurred to support temporary stay of stranded people of Assam.
Commissioner and secretary to the Governor S S Meenakshi Sundaram, commissioner and secretary, Transport K K Dwivedi, chairperson of Indian Red Cross Society T Y Das, State chief commissioner, Bharat Scouts and Guides Absar Hazarika along with other senior officers of the government were present at the meeting.