Sikkim Govt makes COVID-19 test compulsory for ministers

The Sikkim government has made the COVID-19 test compulsory for all the ministers after one of the ministers came in contact with an infected person.

However, the Rural Development Minister Sonam Lama and his team have been tested negative for the COVID-19, health authorities confirmed. They all underwent the Rapid Antigen test on July 14^th, 2020.

“All other ministers would be tested in a planned and phased manner,” Dr PT Bhutia, Health Secretary said.

Meanwhile, Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Golay said that a complete lockdown is not necessary. However, the state has imposed a lockdown in Pakyong and Rongli subdivisions.

The state government also took the crucial decision of imposing no intra-district and inter-district travel from 6 am on July 15 till July 29. While taxis will be allowed to run on an odd-even basis, there will be no permission to the private vehicles. While the closing of bars (no mention on restaurants) and gyms will be imposed, mentioned the chief minister.

Sikkim on Tuesday last reported its highest single-day spike of 45 new COVID-19 cases which pushed the tally in the state to 198, a health official said.

Also read: Assam: Several top bureaucrats test COVID-19 positive

There are 112 active cases in the state at present, while 86 patients have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals, Director General-cum-Secretary, Health, Pema T Bhutia said.

Of the new cases, six were detected through the rapid-antigen method, which the state government is using to test people at the Rangpo border checkpost, he said.

During the day, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang presided over an emergency meeting to review the COVID-19 situation, particularly in Rongli sub-division of East Sikkim.

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