Sikkim: With Zero Positive COVID-19 Cases, State Prepares to Keep State Corona-Free

Gangtok, April 15, 2020:

Sikkim, the only State in India with zero COVID-19 cases, has decided to observe Phase Two of the lockdown in the strictest way possible. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday made a surprise visit to Rangpo and Meli Checkpost to take stock of the COVID-19 preparedness.

Meeting with the Police personnel, the Sikkim CM personally briefed them regarding the situation and lockdown rules. He instructed the officials and employees working under the check post to be strictly vigilant and cautious.

While speaking with mediapersons, the Sikkim CM said that since the country has entered into the second phase of the lockdown, the State has to be extremely strict.

"We have taken the stock of the situation here in two check-posts and I have directed all the officials to strictly check the vehicles of essential commodities and medical emergency. We want to ensure that all the mechanisms are working in its place so we checked," said the Chief Minister.

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The Sikkim leader also extended his gratitude to all the frontline workers for doing their work and making the State corona-free. "I thank the public of Sikkim, health workers, Police officials and everyone who had complied with the Government's decision to observe the nationwide lockdown," he said.

He further added that Sikkim has adequate stock of essential commodities and that the Sikkimese don't have to worry. "Instead, we just have to support the lockdown fully and maintain the status," he said.

Earlier, Tamang had said that the State would follow the central government guidelines but it would relax those for contractors, workers, small-scale businesses, etc. "We will try to help them sustain during the lockdown by relaxing the norms,” said the Chief Minister.

Post-April 20, farmers and construction workers, including local laborers or those who are already working in Sikkim, will be allowed for movement while maintaining strict social distancing at the working sites.

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It may be mentioned here that Sikkim is the only State in the country with zero positive cases of Covid-19. The Northeastern State has been taking the necessary preventive measures to keep it corona-free.

Meanwhile, the country is preparing to observe its second phase lockdown till May 3. With a death toll soaring to 377 in the country on Wednesday, the Government is now looking at imposing strict lockdown rules in a bid to contain its further spread.

India's current coronavirus cases now stand at 11,439. With 1,076 fresh cases, India has now entered a stricter phase to curb the virus. The death toll related to novel coronavirus climbed to 377 in India on Wednesday.

The numbers include 9,756 active cases while 1,306 patients have either been discharged or cured, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The total number of cases includes 76 foreign nationals.

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According to the Health Ministry's data, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country is from Maharashtra. The State has 2,687 COVID-19 cases, followed by Delhi with 1,561 and Tamil Nadu with 1,204 coronavirus cases.

In Assam, there are 32 positive cases with 1 death. Meghalaya has 7 cases with 1 death, Manipur and Tripura have 2 cases each and Mizoram has 1 case. A person from Nagaland has tested positive in Guwahati, Assam.

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