The Nagaland government has decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state till July 31.
The lockdown in the state, which was scheduled to end on July 16, was extended for another 15 days at a meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19, reports say on Saturday.
Government spokesperson on COVID-19 and planning and coordination minister Neiba Kronu said the HPC, headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio, took the decision after reviewing the existing measures and the rising cases of Covid-19 in the state.
The HPC further decided to charge fees from people for COVID-19 tests at government hospitals and their stay in institutional quarantine centres, the minister said.
He, however, said that the present arrangement of free testing and staying in quarantine facilities without any charge will continue till the extended period of the lockdown.