DIMAPUR, April 28 - The Kohima Bench of the Gauhati High Court today directed the Nagaland Government to set up at least two COVID-19 testing laboratories in the State within 10 days. Hearing a PIL filed by one Kikrukhonuo, a resident of Midland Colony, Kohima, a two-judge bench of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice S Hukato Swu also asked the State Government to make sure that the two main hospitals at Kohima and Dimapur, which have been identified for treatment of COVID-19 patients, are fully equipped and ready for functioning to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19 within two weeks.
The court also asked the State Government to make every effort to establish other laboratories at strategic places to facilitate free testing. It directed the State Government to provide sufficient PPE kits to all persons involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients or the care of persons in quarantine centres. The PPE kits should be of standard quality as prescribed by the appropriate authority, the bench said.
The Government was also asked to make all efforts to make ICU facilities available at all places identified for treatment of COVID-19 patients and increase the number of ventilators.
The court further asked the State Government to make ambulance available to COVID-19 patients at the earliest, if not already made available, and also make available transportation facilities to all persons who are on duty in view of the restrictions imposed by the Government and the public.
