Government declares summer vacation in schools, directs all DCs to ensure strict enforcement of covid-appropriate behavior
TFM Desk
Covid situation in Manipur worsened on Monday with five more fatalities due to coronavirus infection and 146 fresh cases reported in the state during the last 24 hours.
According to officials, out of 146 new cases, 141 persons (86M, 55F) were from general population and five personnel from Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). Staggering 112 new cases from general population are reported from Imphal East (42), Imphal West (70) alone. The rest are from, Thoubal (4), Bishnupur (4), Kakching (5), Ukhrul (11), Kangpokpi (4) and Chandel (1).
The officials claimed that all necessary medical precautionary measures like containment and contact tracing are in place.
“In the last 24 hours, five persons aged 57 years (male, Imphal East), 53 years (female, Thoubal), 35 years (male, Churachandpur), 75 years (male, Imphal East) and 53 years (male, Imphal West) expired at JNIMS (4) and RIMS Hospital (1) respectively. The cumulative number of deaths stands at 390,” they said.
The total number of discharged persons is 36. The cumulative number of positive cases is 30,567. The cumulative number of recovered cases is 29,267. The number of active cases is 910. The recovery rate is 95.74 %.
Meanwhile, in view of the current surge in the number of COVID positive cases in the State, the Manipur government declared Summer Vacation from May 1 to 31, 2021 for the Academic Session 2021-2022 in all Government, Aided and Private Schools etc, affiliated to Board of Secondary Education, Manipur and Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur.
As per an official notification, Summer Vacation was announced in the wake of second wave of COVID -19 pandemic and to allay the fear and apprehensions among the students, teaching community, parents/guardians and all concerned stakeholders after a thorough consideration of the prevailing situation.
The order further directed all heads of institutions (principal/ vice-principal/ headmaster/ head mistress etc.) to make an arrangement for detailing at least 4/5 Staff by making an appropriate a daily roster of these 4/5 staffs (Teaching and Non-Teaching) and ensure their attendance in the Institutions and to render unavoidable official duties during the period of vacation.
Further, it advised all concerned authorities of the Schools/Institutions to ensure that necessary arrangement/ preparations are made for commencement/ resumption of Online teaching/ learning exercise on re-opening of classes after the Summer vacation or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
In another development, the government of Manipur directed all deputy commissioners to ensure strict enforcement of covid-appropriate behaviour.
Reminding state home department’s orders regarding night curfew, restrictions on gatherings/shops, the directive issued by deputy secretary (health) Soiminlian Lengen said it is observed with concern that above instructions are not fully complied at various locations. “Laxity in compliance will cause great risk of uncontrolled spread of COVID-19. DCs and District Police should strengthen monitoring urgently,” the order said.
It further said that DCs should immediately request reputed CSOs/Community/Tribe organizations, Church/ religious organizations, etc of the district to disseminate the instructions above and ensure compliance. “A District level Awareness & Monitoring Team may be constituted consisting of suitable district-level officers (DLOs) of different departments,” the directive added.
Some of the key points in the state home department’s orders include night curfew from 7 pm to 5 am everyday, with specific exemptions for emergency/priority categories; closure of Ima Keithel & adjourning Temporary Market for ten days and opening of shops in Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar, etc at the rate of one in three shops on rotation.
The orders also include ban on all gatherings, except unavoidable gatherings for funerals, marriages, time-bound religion rituals/ ceremonies and such gatherings will be strictly limited to 20 persons.
For markets in other districts, the DC and SP should immediately evaluate and issue suitable restriction order on the pattern of opening only one shop in three shops on rotation.
All public transport vehicles, example Buses, Winger vans, Magic vans, Auto-rickshaws, E-Rickshaws, etc., to carry passengers up to maximum half capacity and ensure all passengers wear face mask always.