Nagaland governement modifies repatriation & quarantine plans
• 3 days institutional and 12 days home quarantine for the asymptomatic
• 14 days institutional quarantine for returnees from Red Zones
• Rs 10,000 for those opting to stay put where they are
• CM meeting with civil society today in Dimapur
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 12
On May 7, the Nagaland state government made a bold announcement mandating 21 days institutional quarantine for all returnees to Nagaland from other states. But 5 days later, it became amply clear that it is not going to be.
The government today retracted the decision while reducing the quarantine period to 3 days “institutional quarantine” followed by 12 days of “home quarantine” for asymptomatic returnees from Green and Orange Zones.
For persons from Red Zones or passing through Red Zones, it will be 14 days institutional quarantine. This group of returnees will be screened at designated screening facilities in either Dimapur or Kohima.
“All symptomatic returnees will be isolated and tested,” as per the minutes of a high level meeting chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary and Finance Commissioner on May 12 in Kohima.
It added that the designated point of entry for all returnees by rail or air will be only Dimapur, while the point of entry by road will be through the inter-state check-posts at Dillai & Newfield in Dimapur and Kuzhama check-post in Kohima.
The Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy, while confirming the change in plan, told The Morung Express that it was necessitated to adapt to an evolving situation. When it was pointed out that today’s decision was in stark contrast to what was declared on May 7, he said, “We were working on making arrangements for special trains. But then we were taken a little off gear yesterday (May 11) after the GoI announced the introduction of trains,” he said.
According to him, the government was planning a staggered or phase-wise return of 18,000 plus people spread out over a month’s period. But with the planned resumption of passenger trains, he said that the things have changed and the government had to adapt.
He informed that the government is reworking the earlier Standard Operating Procedure (or protocols), which would be ready by Wednesday.
However, he added a caveat, “Every hour the situation is changing and we are trying to adapt and make our own SOPs and things like that. What was relevant last week is not relevant anymore. We have to face it but then we have to adjust and see how best to adapt to the changing scenario.”
While stating that the first batch of returnees is expected to reach on May 14, he maintained that the state government is in touch with the Railways, getting the passenger manifest and making arrangements accordingly.
As per the latest official figures (May 12), the total of registered returnees stood at 18,255— 16807 outside NE and 1448 within NE. Out of this, 38 persons reached Dimapur by bus on Tuesday evening.
Asked if the state has the infrastructure to house all the returnees in facilities identified by the government for 21 days, he responded that it would be infeasible to quarantine all in one go. He maintained that quarantine must happen but quarantining over 18000 people simultaneously for an extended period would not be sustainable (resources-wise).
