AAPSU moves CM against ‘alarming’ COVID situation

Week-long lockdown at Itanagar capital complex from Monday

By Special Correspondent On Jul 4, 2020

GUWAHATI: Representatives of All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) met at Naharlagun on Saturday and deliberated on the situation arising out of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the state.

The union members after a threabare discussion alleged that there has been “laxity” on the part of the state government in handling the situation.

Arunachal Pradesh had on Friday reported its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with 37 people testing positive for the virus.

The students union submitted a representation to the state chief minister Pema Khandu demanding immediate restrictions against any further entry of returnees to the state as a majority of the returnees have been detected COVID-19 positive.

The union asked the government to revoke the order issued on June 30 allowing reopening of places of worship across the state, as restrictions were already in place against social gatherings, and that it would be difficult to implement them if religious places were reopened.

AAPSU further demanded immediate retesting of all the primary and secondary contacts of the two COVID-19 positive frontline workers who tested positive at a quarantine centre at Lekhi on June 29.

Besides, the union demanded mandatory testing of drivers and handymen of essential goods vehicles entering the state on a daily basis and that proper records of such persons should be maintained.

“The state government should impress upon the appropriate authorities of Central Paramilitary forces and agencies for rendering necessary cooperation of the officials of such forces and their family members with healthcare workers of the state engaged in COVID-19 duty at the check gates,” the union stated in the representation to the chief minister.

Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to impose a week-long lockdown in Itanagar Capital Complex from 5pm of July 6 till 5am of July 13, 2020 in the wake of an alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 positive cases.

A Cabinet meeting was held on Saturday to discuss the COVID-19 situation.

“We are strengthening containment measures to enhance case ascertainment and slowing the spread of the coronavirus,” chief minister Pema Khandu later tweeted.