Lockdown extended till Jun 30, COVDI-19 hospital assured

Imphal, May 31 (DIPR)
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced that the lockdown would be extended till June 30 in the State .
Speaking to media persons at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat today, Biren  maintained that the lockdown is one of the preventive ways to stop further spread of the disease.
He said that the imposition of lockdown and curfew is to save people’s lives.
The Chief Minister said that the MSME sectors, agriculture and horticulture related activities, MGNREGS work etc would be allowed during the lockdown. However, he cautioned that social distancing and advisories and protocols laid down by WHO and Health Ministry must be strictly adhered to.
Highlighting some measures taken up by the Government to tackle the pandemic, Biren said that a 100 bedded dedicated COVID-19 hospital would be set up within 10 days in the State. The number of tests  done in the laboratories at RIMS and JNIMS has been increased to above 1000 per day and thermal scanners have been installed at Imphal International Airport, he added.
He stated that the Government has directed Chief Medical Officers of all districts to recruit volunteers and trained nurses. The number of institutional and community quarantine centres have been increased so as to accommodate the State natives who have returned from different States.
Urging the people not to panic, the Chief Minister said that there is no community transmission of the disease in the State till now. He informed that around 28,000  natives who were stranded in various parts of the country have been brought back in the State during the lockdown.
Biren informed that till 4 pm of May 31, around 71 COVID-19 cases have been detected and out of which 11 patients have recovered fully. He wished speedy recovery of all the patients who are undergoing treatment in the State.
The  Chief Minister thanked the efforts of the frontline workers, media persons, student organizations and CSOs to tackle the pandemic in the State.
Later, the Chief Minister congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the completion of one year of his second term that witnessed several achievements.
He also expressed gratitude to the Narendra Modi led Government for fulfilling the long cherished dream of the people of Manipur by extending Inner Line permit System in the State.