Building massive awareness to contain COVID-19 prime focus of administration: DC Hailakandi

July 15: Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi, Megh Nidhi Dahal said the administration has launched a massive awareness campaign in view of spike in COVID-19 positive cases in the community. In a video conferencing with MLAs, leading citizens, members of the public and organisations here on Wednesday, Dahal said added thrust has been given on generating awareness on COVID-19 to prevent further spread of the disease in the community. Campaign has been stepped up through FLS and mobile miking in rural and urban areas urging the people to maintain social distancing, wearing of masks or face cover, personal hygiene and to avoid gatherings to prevent the contagious disease from spreading further.

Dahal said the administration has closed the haat and weekly markets which witness huge gatherings in view of the present situation. He further stated that the administration has brought many areas under containment zones and put persons infected with novel coronavirus in isolation wards of COVID-19 designated hospitals, COVID-19 care centres and also in home isolation under strict observation. In the same breathe, the Deputy Commissioner disclosed that Hindustan Paper Corporation’s hospital and guest house have been converted into COVID-19 care centres, besides notifying the Model Girls’ Hostel, Adarsha Vidyalaya and DIET facility quarantine centres as COVID-19 care centres to accommodate the infected persons.

As a step towards avoiding gatherings, Dahal said door-to-door delivery of vegetables, chicken and other items are being arranged by the administration in both urban and rural areas. Passes have been issued to the vendors for this purpose. He said those vendors selling vegetables and other items in the now closed haat or weekly markets, can now sell them from place to place instead of at a particular place to prevent gatherings. Dahal informed that rapid antigen tests are also being conducted to quickly identify positive cases. He urged everyone who came in contact with COVID-19 afflicted persons or having fever and other symptoms akin to the disease to get their swab tested at Nazrul Sadan premises.

The Deputy Commissioner said the administration has not taken any decision to impose total lockdown in the district despite pleas from some quarters, as it would again rob the workers, labourers and petty traders of their livelihoods. The Deputy Commissioner said the administration in association with the District Information and Public Relations has floated a Citizen Reporter Group where citizens have been posting photos and videos not only on issues and problems facing them but also on violations of COVID-19 guidelines. Dahal appreciated DIPRO, Sabir Nishat for apprising him and the officials concerned of the concerns of the people on a gamut of issues, including COVID-19.

Tackling the prevailing COVID-19 situation as prime focus of the administration, Dahal appealed to the people to cooperate wholeheartedly with the administration in containing the spread of the disease. On the concerns ventilated by MLAs, Anwar Hussain Laskar, Nizamuddin Choudhury and Suzamuddin Laskar regarding complaints on quality of food served at some facility quarantine centres, DC, Dahal asked them to provide names of persons who can provide good quality food items to the quarantined persons on time and that he would recommend their names accordingly. The Deputy Commissioner said dry rations to the tune of Rs.2,000 are being provided to the people living in containment zones. He also requested the MLAs to render all possible help and support to the administration to tackle the grim situation.

Dahal also told the MLAs that bills pertaining to supply of food items to quarantined persons are being cleared by the administration. Members of the general public and leading citizens also put forth their suggestions on dealing with the COVID-19 situation. Dahal, while thanking everyone for their participation, assured that their suggestions would be taken into account for dealing with the coronavirus situation.