ITANAGAR, April 18 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inspected the Banderdewa check gate on the Arunachal Pradesh-Assam border to ensure that all points of entry into the State are fully equipped to detect any suspected COVID-19 cases. He also had a meeting with senior State Government officials to strengthen the screening process at all entry points. The Chief Minister discussed the standard operating procedure on handling such cases.
During the visit, he also reviewed the facilities and manpower availability at the check gate. He met the Health workers and police personnel posted at the check gate. He enquired if safety kits and other facilities are being made available to all the frontline workers. He also inspected whether the check gates are following the safety protocol and social distancing norms.
Following the inspection of facilities at the check gate, Khandu visited the Arunachal Pradesh State Control Room for COVID-19 established at the Civil Secretariat here to answer citizens� queries on the virus and monitor the activities of different agencies involved in containment of the disease.
The Chief Minister later convened a meeting with top officials of the State on strengthening the screening process at all entry points. He also made a case for equipping these check points with sufficient manpower, screening kits, safety kits and other facilities.
Khandu discussed the standard operating procedure when a person is identified as COVID-19 positive and the procedure for isolation and treatment.
Face masks: Wearing of face covers or masks has been made compulsory at all public places and workplaces in the Itanagar Capital Region. The Deputy Commissioner of the Itanagar Capital Region, Komkar Dulom, issued an order on Friday, asking the Capital SP, the Additional District Magistrate-cum-Chief Executive Officer, Itanagar, and all executive magistrates-cum-incident commanders to enforce the order in letter and spirit.
Further, spitting in all public spaces has been prohibited, the District Magistrate said, adding that violation will be punishable with fine. Moreover, liquor sale has been banned in the Itanagar Capital Region during the lockdown period.
Besides, the district administration has banned the sale of gutkha, tobacco, pan, pan masala, etc., to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Anybody found violating the order will be prosecuted as per Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Section 188 of the IPC, the District Magistrate said.
