Hailakandi observes unprecedented Janata curfew, 155 persons kept under home quarantine

March 22: Responding to the clarion call of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for a Janata curfew, the people of Hailakandi district observed an unprecedented shutdown on Sunday. Prime Minister Modi in an address to the nation on Thursday, urged the people to voluntarily stay indoors to check the spread of Coronavirus. Hailakandi town and other parts of the district wore a deserted look with commercial establishments and markets closed except those dealing in essential items. All modes of transport including public transport remained off the roads.

Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli, who had appealed to the people to observe the Janata curfew, expressed her profound gratitude for making it a huge success. “Social distancing is the key to breaking the chain of infection. As we are now in the crucial phase, I appeal to people once again to remain indoors and to follow the self-imposed curfew for sometime to prevent the virus from spreading,” said Jalli.

Exactly at 5 pm, people came out on the verandah and stood near the windows of their houses and blew conches, clapped, clanged utensils, bursting crackers to express their indebtedness to those who are working round the clock to keep the country safe and healthy amid the pandemic. Siren was also blown by fire services.

Altogether 86 surveillance teams of the health department, ASHA workers and supervisors have fanned out across the district and visiting the homes of people who have come from outside Assam. The district administration is keeping a close eye on the people coming from outside by buses and trains with screening carried out. So far 532 passengers have been screened in the past four days.

Joint Director, Health Services, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Dwivedy disclosed that 155 persons who have come from outside the State in the past couple of days have been kept under home quarantine besides two persons who have been discharged by Silchar Medical College and Hospital on March 18 as a precautionary step. Nine persons suspected to have Coronavirus exposure, all cases asymptomatic, have been screened, said Dr. Dwivedy adding that no positive case has been detected in the district so far.

Dr .Dwivedy said that undertaking has been obtained from the persons coming from other States and abroad that they would not step out of their homes and maintain a safe distance from their family members during the incubation period failing which legal action would be initiated against them. “Since the contagious virus spreads through physical contact, social distancing is an effective measure to contain its spread by avoiding contact during the incubation period of the virus,” said Dr. Dwivedy.

“All those who have been advised to stay in home quarantine or isolation, I fervently appeal to you to follow the instructions. This will protect you as well as your near and dear ones and friends,” Dr. Dwivedy added.
Besides a five-bed isolation ward at the SK Roy Civil Hospital, quarantine facilities have been opened in hospitals and government buildings with a total capacity of 90 beds.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, EL Faihraem, Health, said that the administration would soon take stern action against the persons coming from outside who have so far not voluntarily reported his or her arrival to the nearest health centre or police station under Section 270 of the IPC for concealing information and other provisions of IPC read with The Assam COVID-19 Regulations, 2020. “To prevent the spread of this fatal virus, we are working on a war footing. Isolation ward has been set up together with quarantine facility. Screening is being done. I urge the persons with a history of travel in last 14 days to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported to voluntarily report to the nearest health centre or police station or else we will be forced to act against such persons for concealing facts under Section 270 of IPC and other relevant laws,” he added.From suspending prayers involving large gatherings in shrines of various faiths, including Friday Namaj, to disallowing individuals and organisations from entering hospital premises, to imposing Section 144 and banning sale of chopped fish and meat, the administration has taken a slew of measures to contain the spread of the dreaded virus. The administration has closed down the weekly markets to prevent large gatherings and allowed them to run on a daily basis from 9 am to 12 noon. The administration has urged the traders not to hoard essential items and the people to purchase only necessary things.