DIMAPUR, July 30 - Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio�s residential complex in Kohima was sealed for 48 hours following detection of a few COVID-19 cases in the complex on Thursday.
�Few persons in the Chief Minister�s residential complex have tested positive for COVID-19. All SOPs are being followed. The complex is being sanitized and the residential office is closed for 48 hours,� the Nagaland CMO tweeted.
However, the usual functioning of the CMO is continuing by adhering to the guidelines.
According to sources, a few security personnel and support staff detailed in the Chief Minister�s residential complex tested positive on Thursday.
The security personnel who tested positive are not his personal bodyguards but were on duty as per the roster system and reside in the residential complex.
Rio has home quarantined himself after his return from New Delhi recently and underwent two tests for COVID-19. The results of both the tests returned negative, sources said. He will undergo another test, sources added.
Assembly session deferred: The sixth session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, which was scheduled to be began on Thursday, has been deferred to August 13 because of certain unforeseen developments, Commissioner and Secretary of Nagaland Assembly Dr PJ Antony said.
Lockdown to continue till August 31: The Nagaland government has decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the State till August 31 following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the State.
Planning and Coordination Minister and government spokesperson Neiba Kronu said the high-powered committee on COVID-19 took the decision on Thursday.
The committee reiterated that the district task forces on COVID-19 have been empowered to take decisions on extension or imposition of total lockdown in their respective districts. It said schools and colleges will remain closed during this period. Kronu said the government will issue new SOPs for the lockdown.
COVID-19 tally: Nagaland reported 48 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking the State�s tally to 1,561. Of the new cases, 32 are from Dimapur and 16 from Kohima.
With the recent surge in the number of positive cases in the State, the Health and Family Welfare Department has once again highlighted the importance of preventive measures like wearing of mask, avoiding gatherings, maintaining social distance and following hygienic practices.
The department asked anybody who comes in contact with a COVID-19 patient to isolate himself at home and inform healthcare worker or district surveillance unit or call the state helpline number.
