DIMAPUR, May 9 - As many as 848 suspected samples were sent for COVID-19 tests from Nagaland till 4 pm on Saturday. Among them, 786 samples have tested negative. The results of the remaining 62 samples are awaited.
Principal Secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha said this in his briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the State. He also stated that 93 stranded people from Nagaland, have applied for e-passes to return. As many as 12,839 have asked for government arrangements for transportation.
The State Government on Friday launched the returnees� declaration form on the website, iamstranded.nagaland. gov.in, for citizens who are stranded in others parts of the country and who desire to come back.
Sinha said that inter-district movement of stranded people continued for the third day on Saturday. About 2,000 people have travelled back to their respective districts from various locations of the State so far.
He said 18,156 applicants who are stranded outside, comprising 13,782 working people, 4,203 students and 171 patients, have been provided financial assistance of Rs 7.12 crore through bank transfer.
Sinha said that Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, during a video conference with all authorities concerned of the North Eastern States on Saturday, discussed various issues in regard to the fight against COVID-19 like plans for expansion of testing facilities and status of treatment centres.
He said Vardhan urged everyone to be vigilant despite the fact that the North East region has lesser positive cases than the rest of the country.
According to a report on the law-and-order situation issued by the Home Department, 23 instances of lockdown violation were reported and 23 persons were detained on Saturday. The report said shops selling essential commodities and pharmacies were open in all districts, and that there has been no report of shortage of items.
It said no restriction has been imposed on the movement of commercial vehicles for distribution of essential commodities and service provision. Suitable arrangements have been made for providing food and shelter to migrant workers.
The report said that four relief camps in the State are housing 64 migrant workers. Four food camps are also functioning, while more than 500 daily wage earners and needy people were provided food and dry rations on Saturday.
