By Jun Taki

ITANAGAR, Mar 9: With the Coronavirus fear escalating all over the country, in the state capital, a severe crunch of surgical masks and hand sanitizers has frightened the common citizens. Amid this scenario, top brass of the state health department have issued a further appeal to the people not to panic and stay safe by following the laid out health tips.
Panic purchase of the said ‘articles of safety’ have drastically surged in the last few weeks in capital Itanagar and this unprecedented rush has compelled the pharmacies and major retailers to announce an ‘out of stock’ declaration. This is even after the number of confirmed cases in the whole country remaining relatively low as on Sunday as per reports. 
In response to the emerging situation, an emergency meeting was called by Health Minister Alo Libang at DHS Naharlagun conference hall on Monday which was attended by Director Health Services, Director TRIHMS, Dean TRIHMS Medical College, CMS TRIHMS and all officials of the Health Department during which a presentation was made by SSO-IDSP Dr L. Jampa on COVID-19 outbreak and the steps taken so far by the Health Department and the preparedness strategy adopted for cluster containment of any cases of the virus which may be detected. Libang reiterated that health department is fully prepared to contain outbreak of the virus in the state. While reviewing the status of preparedness he informed that order had been issued to ensure that there is no shortage of mask and hand sanitizers. “I will do everything possible to mitigate the shortage and raise awareness about the virus across the state,” Libang stated. He added everyone has a role to play in containing the virus and there’s no need to panic. “Don’t let your emotions get overwhelmed by a fear about a virus whose details are yet to be known fully,”  Libang appealed.
Interacting with this correspondent after attending the meeting, Jampa said that not having a mask does not necessarily put one at increased risk and the best way of protection is by following a simple and routine hand wash regimen, personal hygiene, avoid travelling outside the state for some time, staying away from public places and mass gatherings for time being. While appealing people to refrain from panic purchase of masks and sanitizers, he reminded that not a single case has been detected in the state as of now. 
Lobsang will also impart training on preparedness of the virus to the district health officials also.
Director TRIHMS Dr Moji Jini said that necessary medical equipment for screening has been arranged which will be done from Tuesday at railway station, bus stations and check gates and a special ventilation system for the isolated ward would also be arranged in case of cases needing to be quarantined. Jini added that an isolated ward with six beds specially designed to keep suspected patients have been arranged at TRIHMS and Bakin Pertin Memorial Hospital at Pasighat.
Talking to the pharmacists, it transpired that there is fast depletion of stocks due to the panic purchase “We’ve been told by our supplier there’ll be irregular supplies of surgical masks, but at the moment, we are running out of stock and don’t know when we can fill it up again,” a salesman at Health Care Pharmacy, Shirajul Islam informed this daily. 
The same was echoed by several other pharmacies in the capital who in unison said the unprecedented rush has resulted in vanishing of commonly used and otherwise readily available hand sanitizers from the shelves. 
Observing the common people’s reaction to the crisis, it also appears many are in the grip of fear, particularly those having little knowledge of the details, while the more knowledgeable ones are thankfully untouched of the wide spreading panic. But that it is required by state government to conduct more awareness especially in villages was also reiterated by many.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 Media Bulletin for Arunachal Pradesh which was updated as on March 9 has laid out some dos and don’ts for the common people while using masks. In case of a healthy person, there is only need to wear a mask while taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection. Masks are to be used if one is coughing or sneezing and will be effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.      Before putting on a mask, hands must be cleaned with the above and mouth and nose should be covered with no gaps. Touching the mask while using it should be avoided and it should be replaced with a new one as soon as it is damp and re-use of single-use mask must be avoided.

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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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