COVID-19 Pandemic: Nagaland Govt bans entry of tourists, closes schools

Kohima: In order to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 and as a measure of abundant caution, the Nagaland government has decided to ban entry of all tourists, both foreign and domestic, into the state with effect from March 18 till further orders.

A state government said all issuance of new/fresh Inner Line Permits for all other categories, including domestic and foreign tourists, will be suspended with immediate effect until further orders. The government directed that all entry points and check gates into the State, including the Indo-Myanmar international border, will be manned and screened by manpower provided by the state police forces.

The manpower will be trained and provided with equipments by the Department of Health & Family Welfare. The training will proceed immediately.

A high level meeting attended among others by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also decided to close of all educational institutions and universities in the state from March 17 till April 12, 2020, except for the ongoing CBSE, CISCE and other board examinations.

It also decided to ban entry of all tourists, both foreign and domestic, into the State with effect from March 18 till further orders. Further, the Government has also suspended issuance of new/fresh Inner Line Permits for all other categories, including domestic and foreign tourists, with immediate effect until further orders.

The meeting also formed a “Special Action Group” drawn in from line departments including H&FW, IPR, NSDMA, School Education, NBSE, Rural Development, Police and Transport among others.

The meeting also decided to put on hold official functions and programmes involving big gatherings including mini hornbill festivals.

Sources said, during the meeting, Chief Minister Rio urged the elected representatives to go to their respective assembly constituencies and districts and hold meeting with the District officials and others on the issue.