ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Jun 17: Days after two healthcare professionals tested Covid-19 positive in Pasighat, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) announced its decision to impose a 12-day complete lockdown from June 19-30 in the areas falling under Pasighat Municipal Corporation as a preemptive measure to contain the further spread of the pandemic.
Speaking to reporters here at the Press Club on Wednesday, AAPSU Vice President (Admin.) Meje Taku said that the major step had to be taken after the two frontline warriors tested positive and due to the failure of the East Siang District Administration in containing the spread of virus in the district. 
“The disease has now entered the community transmission stage in Pasighat and the recent case of two corona warriors from Pasighat testing positive is enough to assume that the virus could spread rapidly if no preventive measures are initiated quickly,” Taku said.
“We have conducted a meeting with various organizations of East Siang district like the All East Siang District Students’ Union (AEKDSU), ABK Youth Wing, CBOs, NGOs etc. who have come under the umbrella named East Siang District Indigenous Covid-19 Warriors, prior to taking the decision,” Taku informed.
For the past few months, AAPSU had been in close contact with these organizations and was constantly monitoring the Covid curve, detection, preparedness and contact tracing protocols. The organization has also demanded the removal of the East Siang DC for her inability to stop the march of infection in Pasighat. A core member of the AAPSU T. Jerang alleged that the DC does not cooperate with the people nor does she conduct public meetings to gather suggestions and feedback and only monitors the situation via phone with the field officials.
Taku regretted that it is rather unfortunate to know from the people of the district that the incumbent DC does not cooperate and seeks suggestions from the CBOs, student bodies, community-level leaders etc. regarding the pandemic. He said that the lockdown is being imposed to enable the healthcare workers in Pasighat to speed up the process of contact tracing and for checking the spread of virus among communities. Besides stressing on faster identification of the sick and speedy contact tracing, AAPSU has called for stricter implementation of the protective measures for the frontline workers, quicker screening and testing of samples and intensification of the containment measures. When asked about other districts, Taku clarified that AAPSU’s objective is to contain the further spread of Covid-19 at the community level. “Other than Pasighat, most of the cases were detected from the quarantine centres and are under strict vigil, so there are fewer chances of community spread,” he stated, adding that as Pasighat is the corridor for the Siang belt and other eastern Arunachal districts, they are in the effort in breaking the chain of spread of the virus. 

AAPSU has further urged the state government to immediately fix a deadline for entry of returnees in the state to contain the chances of more infection. Taku also questioned the state government on the plan being pursued to contain the increasing numbers of cases in the state. 
Meanwhile, the union has extended support to the demands of various CBOs of East Siang for the transfer of the Deputy Commissioner for her alleged incompetency in handling the pandemic.
All business establishments, shops and hotels will remain closed. However, security forces, emergency services and frontline workers will be exempted from the purview of the lockdown. Vehicles passing through Pasighat headed towards other districts would be escorted by police from Ranaghat bridge to Pasighat Welcome Gate.
No vehicle will be allowed to stop in the areas under Pasighat Municipality.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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