As of Friday, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Nagaland was 428. (File)
Kohima:
The Nagaland government has decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state until July 31, and to charge fees for the COVID-19 tests and to remain in quarantine centers at a later stage.
The ongoing state foreclosure, which was to be lifted on July 16, was extended for another 15 days at a meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) on COVID-19.
Government Spokesperson on COVID-19 and Minister of Planning and Coordination, Neiba Kronu, said the CHP, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, made the decision after examining existing measures and the increase in coronavirus cases in the state.
As of Friday, the number of active cases of COVID-19 in Nagaland was 428, while 304 patients have recovered from the disease.
HPC also decided to charge people for COVID-19 tests in public hospitals and their stay in institutional quarantine centers, said Neiba Kronu.
He argued, however, that the current provision of free testing and free quarantine stay will continue until the extended lockout period.
The rates will be fixed later but they will be minimal, said the minister.
He said the government had also decided to put in place a single standard operating procedure (SOP) for all purposes in the state to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as there was confusion about various SOPs issued by different authorities.
Meanwhile, the (home) secretary Abhijit Sinha said the CHP had tasked officials to speed up the process of recruiting additional doctors and nurses to strengthen the state’s health care system.
