First COVID-19 case in Manipur? Curfew imposed in Imphal districts

Imphal: A 23 year old girl today tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first COVID-19 case in Manipur as well as the first case in North East India.

A resident of Imphal West, who returned to Manipur from London, UK via Kolkata and Agartala on 21st March, 2020 has been tested positive in Manipur according to a preliminary report and has been kept in an isolation ward in JNIMS, Imphal. The test sample will be sent for further confirmation.

Meanwhile, District Magistrates of both Imphal East and West have imposed a public curfew in both the districts. In separate orders issued by the DMs under Sub-section 2 of Section 144 of CrPC 1973 “prohibit the movement of any person outside their respective residence from 0800 hrs of 24th March, 2020 until further orders”.

According to the preliminary report, the result of test conducted at Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, JNIMS, Imphal, which is one of the approved Labs for testing COVID-19 by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), have come out to be positive.

As per reports, she returned from London, UK and reached Imphal on 21st March, 2020 joined by her brother in Kolkata who also returned from Atlanta, USA. The whole family has been taken for isolation by the government.

In the wake of the latest development, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh appealed to the people to stay at home saying ‘Life is precious’. Various locals have started blocking the entry of outsiders to their localities to prevent spreading the virus.

In a press statement issued by Dr. K. Rajo Singh, Director, Health Services Manipur said that the girl is under treatment at JNIMS isolation ward. He has also requested persons who had contact with the girl to contact Health Services at +91-9402880191/0385-2411668/1800-345-818 and start self-isolation immediately until further instructions.

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