Manipur government on Thursday appealed the public to extend maximum cooperation in the collective fight against coronavirus threat amid nationwide lockdown.
The additional chief secretary Suhel Akhtar and principal secretary P Vaiphei visited the Churachandpur district to take stock of the situation and inspected the notified quarantine centre in the district.
The two officials also chaired a review meeting with the deputy commissioner Pawan Yadav led district officials.
Also read: In a first, President to address Governors amid coronavirus crisis
Later speaking to media in the hill district headquarters, principal secretary Vaiphei said the nationwide lockdown, which is first of its kind in modern day, is announced for the safety of the public.
He termed the incident of chaotic state of affairs, where people arbitrarily came out defying the lockdown call, witnessed in the town and other place on Thursday morning as unfortunate.
Vaiphei urged the people of Churachandpur to observe and enforce the nationwide lockdown in its true spirit and never indulge in activities that could defeat the purpose of lockdown such as the one doing the round on Thursday morning.
Stressing on the need to maintain strict discipline by all concerned including CSOs during testing times such as this, Vaiphei urged the people to get their necessities in an organized way and without any panic.
Stating that the 21-day lockdown and curfew are imposed to flatten the curve of infection, which if not checked could result in exponential spread, he said it would be a disaster of unprecedented scale if most of the people get infected simultaneously.
Also read: Coronavirus enters Northeast; Manipur records first case?
Citing examples of high fatality rate in other places/countries due to negligence or disregard of preventive measures at early stage, he appealed the people to follow the orders and directives issued by the health authority and administration in this regard and hunker down for the larger interest of the society.
He also strongly cautioned about the potential threat posed by COVID-19 once it starts affecting laymen in places like ours.
Sharing his feeling during the media briefing, deputy commissioner Pawan Yadav said COVID-19 is an eminent threat for all of us and people of all hues must follow certain precautions which are issued time to time by the district administration.