IMPHAL, April 4 - Manipur Health officials today said that the first COVID-19 patient, who has been undergoing treatment at a government hospital here, has tested negative for the disease now.
However as per the existing guidelines, another test will be conducted after 24 hours and further steps will be taken, Dr Th Bhimo of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Porompat, said when reporters contacted him. The condition of the patient is improving, he said while responding to another question.
The first COVID-19 case was reported in the State on March 24 and the second one was confirmed on April 2.
Meanwhile, the test results of all 11 family members of the second COVID-19 patient have turned out to be negative, according to a press release issued by Dr Kh Sasheekumar Mangang, spokesperson of the State Health Department in a press release today.
All the 37 high-risk co-passengers of the first COVID-19 patient in the Air Asia flight (on March 21) have completed 14 days of quarantine and they were referred to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and the JNIMS for mandatory testing today, the release said.
In a separate development, Chief Minister N Biren Singh today launched the Manipur Police Patrol Unit meant for Imphal city at the Chief Minister�s Secretariat here. Biren Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, handed over keys to the SPs Jogeshchandra Haobijam (Imphal East district) and K Meghachandra (Imphal West district) to mark the symbolic launching of the units. The selected officers and personnel of both districts will be engaged in operating the patrol units as the police have procured 13 Toyota Innova cars.
After the launching session which was attended by Manipur Assembly Deputy Speaker K Robindro, MLAs L Susindro (Khurai) and Th Satyabrata (Yaiskul), DGP LM Khaute, ADGP L Kailun, IGPs Clay Khongsai and IK Muivah, the Chief Minister went on a drive in the city in the new patrol vehicles along with the DGP.
Lockdown violators detained: State police teams detained 546 lockdown violators and seized 473 vehicles on Saturday. As many as 523 violators were detained and 312 vehicles impounded on Friday. A fine of Rs 53,900 was collected on Saturday and an amount of Rs 31,500 was fined on Friday.
Meanwhile, appealing to the public to follow the guidelines of the Government and stay indoors for their own safety, the Additional Director General (L/O) of Police, L Kailun, in a press release, said those who go to purchase essential items should not use vehicles to maintain social distancing. The police will continue to enforce the lockdown strictly in the days to come, the release said.
Ministerial portfolios changed: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday made some changes in the portfolios of ministers in the aftermath of Manipur Assembly Speaker�s Tribunal disqualifying Minister of Forest and Environment Th Shyamkumar as an MLA on March 28.
According to a notification issued by the State Chief Secretary, the portfolios of Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development, Forest and Environment and Climate Change, Science and Technology, Economics and Statistics have been allocated to Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, while Horticulture and Soil Conservation have been retained by the Chief Minister in addition to other portfolios. Chief Minister N Biren Singh will now take care of Home, Finance, Transport, Tourism, Personnel and Planning, Sericulture, GAD and other departments not allocated to other ministers.
