IT News
Imphal, June 28:
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today said that his government has decided to extend the lockdown for another 15 days i.e. from July 1 to July 15 this year.
Talking to reporters during a press conference held at Chief Minister’s Secretariat today the Chief Minister said that the government has also decided to open inter-district bus service from July 1 by maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued by the government.
However, no other public transport system will be allowed during this period, he added. He appealed the people to strictly adhere to the SOPs and guidelines issued by the government to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chief Minister informed that the total number of positive cases is 1094, 432 cases have been discharged and at present, there 660 active cases. The recovery rate is 39.56 %, he added. He further maintained that the testing capacity has increased to nearly 2600 tests per day by getting new machines and engaging more persons. More than 50,000 samples have been taken, including for re-test and for testing frontline workers till now. Almost all test results have been declared, he added.
N. Biren Singh mentioned that in order to supplement testing capacity, TRUENAT machines have been procured. At present there are 2 machines in RIMS, 1 machine at JNIMS, 2 machines at IRL Imphal, 2 machines at Senapati,1 machine at Tamenglong and 1 being installed in Ukhrul. He added, TRUENAT machine can give about 20 – 35 results per day depending on the capacity and can supplement PCR machines for urgent or vulnerable cases immediately as the result is declared within an hour.
Informing that there is no case of community transmission of the disease in the State, Chief Minister said that almost all positive cases are from returnees except 7 frontline workers who were in direct contact with positive cases. Till date, around 43,000 persons have been sent to institutional and community quarantine centres and around 7200 inmates are at present in quarantine centres.
Mentioning about the present capacity of beds in the State to treat the COVID-19 patients, Chief Minister informed that at present, 150 beds in JNIMS, 100 beds in RIMS, 350 beds in Covid Care Center Meitram, 100 beds in Ukhrul are functional as COVID Care Facility, in addition to isolation wards and COVID beds in each district hospital. He maintained that work is going on for adding another 750 beds in various facilities, namely in Senapati Trauma Centre-50 beds, Imphal West Family Welfare Training Centre – 100 beds, Thoubal GNM School – 100 beds, Lamboikhongnang khong Trade Centre– 300 beds, Kangpokpi BIET- 50 beds, Churachandpur NIELIT – 100 beds and Tamenglong- 50 beds.
The Chief Minister stated that a sum of Rs. 10 crores from State Corpus Fund and donations amount of Rs. 14.41 crores received in Chief Minister’s COVID-19 Relief Fund are being used in the fight against the disease. Total expenditure of Rs. 18.22 crores have been made for transportation of returnees, purchase of rice, financial assistance to stranded persons and awareness activities by Committee of CSOs, he added.
Deputy Chairman, State Planning Board S. Rajen and MLA Th. Satyabrata were present during the press conference.
