Coronavirus: Northeastern states sound alert

GUWAHATI: Assam is has sounded alert after neighbouring Bhutan informed that a tourist from United States was confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 virus.

This person prior to going to Bhutan was in Assam for nearly 10 days. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the preparedness and monitoring mechanism of health department to deal with coronavirus disease in the State.

Sonowal appealed people of the State not to panic and urged them to maintain personal hygiene to keep themselves safe from this virus. He further urged people not to be apprehensive about seeing any foreigner and directed the police department to take needful steps for their security.


Chief Minister during review directed the health department to take steps for sensitizing all government officials from State Headquarter to panchayat level on the coronavirus disease and precautionary measures needed to be taken.

He also asked the department to carry out extensive awareness activities among people of the State involving field level functionaries of the department. He also directed to impart training to staff of government and private health institutions.

Health department officials informed the Chief Minister that 100 percent screening of passengers of all international flights at Guwahati are being carried out along with regular screening at other airports in the State. Already isolation ward has been set up at GMCH and places have been identified at all district hospitals for such wards.

Assam government has identified 127 persons who came in contact with this US national in Assam, all of them are being quarantined.

The Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya is fully cognizant of the public advisory released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the Department of Health and Family Welfare (DoHFW) of the Government of Meghalaya regarding the outbreak of the COVID-19 Virus in India.

Given this, the Tourism Department is taking steps, in coordination with the DoHFW, Government of Meghalaya to ensure that all protocols and precautionary measures are adhered to at the Meghalayan Age Festival being organized from the 7th – 15th of March 2020 at Wenfield, Thadlaskein, West Jaintia Hills.

The festival is now being scaled down to a Conference with participation of limited invitees only. As mass gatherings are to be avoided as per the DoHFW ‘s advisory, it is decided that the earlier planned events i.e., evening music concerts and tethered balloon flights will not be held for the first three days.

The first three days will only be a Media Conference and a familiarization trip for the 50-70 invitees who will be going through the existing screening process as per Government of India and State Government’s protocols.

The situation is being monitored closely and the State Government is continuously reviewing the situation.

To prevent spread of Corona Virus in Arunachal, the protected area permit (PAP) being issued to foreigners has been suspended. The government stated, “ This is in view of the reported cases of virus making entry into our country through people coming from abroad.”