Assam stops issuing visitors' passes at state secretariat
Guwahati, March 18 (PTI): The Assam government on Wednesday stopped issuing passes to visitors for entering the state secretariat to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.
As a preventive measure to restrict gatherings in public places and offices, it has been decided not to issue any visitor''s pass, including e-pass till March 31, an order issued by Secretariat Administration Department''s Commissioner and Secretary M Angamuthu said.
"The visitors are advised to contact the officers concerned over telephone or e-mails whom they proposed to visit," the official said.
The department had on March 16 restricted the daily entry of persons to the state secretariat to 100.
Mizoram seeks to establish virology lab in state-run hospital
Mizoram Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana on Wednesday said the state government is making efforts to set up a virology laboratory at state-run Zoram Medical College to test suspected cases of coronavirus infection.
He said a detailed project report (DPR) has been submitted to the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi and the Department of Health Research of the Centre for establishing a novel coronavirus-testing laboratory in Mizoram.
"The state government is making efforts to set up a virology laboratory at the ZMC," Lalthangliana told reporters.
The health minister said seven blood samples were sent to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and six of them tested negative for coronavirus while the result of one sample is awaited.
He said patients with coronavirus-like symptoms are being admitted to the isolation ward at the ZMC and the state government is conducting screening at inter-state and international borders and at Lengpui airport.
Health Department Principal Director Dr F Lallianhlira said at least 163 people have been quarantined so far, of whom eight have been discharged upon completion of 14 days observation period.
Meghalaya govt shuts tourist spots
The Meghalaya government on Wednesday decided to shut tourist spots in the state as part of its measures to prevent any possible transmission and outbreak of novel coronavirus.
"All tourist spots in the state of Meghalaya including parks and recreational areas are hereby advised to close till March 31," the order said.
The state''s preparedness to tackle COVID-19 was also reviewed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma at a meeting during which he asked deputy commissioners to screen all people entering their districts. State Health minister AL Hek and Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui were also present at the review meeting.
The chief minister gave the instructions via video conferencing to the deputy commissioners and medical officers of the districts.
"The situation in the world and other parts of the country is alarming and there is a need to be serious but without creating panic," Conrad said in a statement.
Participation of local headman and community besides closely monitoring the situation in the state for the next 15 days is crucial, he said.
The meeting also discussed need for medical volunteers, stocking of essential commodities, and setting up of isolation wards, testing centres and control rooms.
The need for spreading awareness on hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and social distancing was also discussed in the meeting.
