Manipur govt imposes night curfew in state in view of COVID-19 surge

IMPHAL: The Manipur government has imposed night curfew across the in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country.

The night curfew, to be effective from tomorrow, will begin at 8 pm and end at 4 am every day till further order, a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) signed by chief secretary Rajesh Kumar said today. The chief secretary is also the chairman of the state executive committee of the SDMA.

All essential services, including pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, power supply, public health engineering, municipal office, fire service and medical oxygen manufacturing units are exempted from the purview of the curfew though. People engaged with these services and government employees engaged in COVID-19 management and medical services are also exempted from the curfew.

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Similarly, all goods carrying vehicles, including medical oxygen, are also exempted, the order said.

The Manipur government earlier today issued an order making it mandatory for all persons entering the state to produce a negative COVID-19 test report. Deputy secretary, health department, Soiminlian Lengen said the order shall become effective from April 18.

“All persons entering Manipur, whether by air or by road, and irrespective of place of origin, shall be allowed entry only on mandatory production of a negative RT-PCR/TrueNat/CB-NAAT COVID-19 test report taking within 72 hours from arrival in Manipur,” Lengen said in an order.

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The order further notified that all army and central armed police forces units are instructed to arrange for COVID-19 test of their personnel entering Manipur.