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BREAKING | Manipur & Sikkim Announce Complete Lockdown amid COVID-19 Crisis

BREAKING | Manipur & Sikkim Announce Complete Lockdown amid COVID-19 Crisis

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Imphal, March 23, 2020:

Taking note of the Centre's note to shut down the States amid the ongoing crisis situation that is taking shape out to the outbreak of the COVID-19, Manipur has called for a complete lockdown till March 31. Additionally, Sikkim has also called for a lockdown from March 25, till further notice.

Manipur Government spokesperson Thongam Biswajit Singh, announcing that the State Cabinet has taken a decision to impose a total lockdown in the State till March 31 next, stated that it has a lockdown has been decided upon as a precautionary measure against the outbreak of COVID-19 across the nation.

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However, Biswajit said, essential services including grocery shops will be exempted from the lockdown.

Further stating that the medical department will overlook home quarantine system, the government spokesperson also stated that the cabinet has also taken a decision to utilise dedicated buildings in both Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences as isolation wards for the time being.

The government has also decided to distribute rice meant for April under the 'National Food Security Act' this month in order to support needy people during the lockdown. The Minister further continued that beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s Hakshel gi Tengbang who don’t posses NFSA card will also avail free rice.

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"We can stop this pandemic spread of COVID-19 only if we follow and observe the precautionary guidelines issued by the experts and scientists...we should not hide any signs of symptoms of COVID-19 and should inform the dedicated health centres at the earliest", the spokesperson added. "Let us together fight this COVID-19, and not allow our negligence to hinder our fight against it", the Minister appealed to the public.

"Let’s maintain proper hygiene, wash our hands regularly and maintain our social distance to defeat COVID-19", Bishwajit said.

On the other hand, the administration of Sikkim has also announced a lockdown that shall be in force from the 25th of March. All shops, hotels, restaurants, commercial establishments, private offices, factories, workshops and godowns to close operations from 6 am on March 25. However, shops selling essential commodities such as groceries, vegetables, meat, fish and medicines are to stay open. To cater to the needs of the people, the Government has also said that the All Sikkim Milk Union outlets are to be open. Petrol pumps, private clinics, pharma companies and medical equipment stores are also to be kept open.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 continues to tighten its grip across the nation, and as many as 425 people in India have been infected by the virus, and 8 have succumbed to death. Meanwhile, India has reported another death due to coronavirus; A 68-year-old Philippines man has died in Mumbai; He had tested positive and recovered initially. This is the third death reported in the Maharashtra capital. However, the government is yet to confirm the latest Mumbai death as one due to coronavirus.

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Edited By: Admin
Published On: Mar 23, 2020