Gangtok, May 15 (IPR): Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Shri K. Sreenivasulu, convened a press conference today at the conference hall of Tashiling Secretariat with regard to the weeklong complete lockdown being imposed by the Government of Sikkim in the State with effect from 17th May, 2021.
Shri Sreenivasulu was accompanied by Principal Secretary, Home Department, Shri R. Telang, Special DGP, Shri Akshay Sachdeva, Planning & Agriculture Secretary-cum-Secretary, Covid-19 Management Group, Shri Rinzing Chewang Bhutia, and Secretary, State Transport Authority, Shri Karma Namgyal Bhutia.
Addressing the press conference, Shri Sreenivasulu said that the State Government, after much deliberation, is imposing the weeklong lockdown in order to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission following a surge in the Covid-19 cases in the State. The order will come into force from 5am on 17th May to 5am on 24th May.
He informed that only medicine shops will be allowed to operate during the complete lockdown with milk vending shops being permitted to open from 7am to 11am. He has appealed to the people of Sikkim to strictly abide by the lockdown guidelines issued by the State administration and extend their support and cooperation to curb the outbreak.
Principal Secretary, Home Department, Shri R. Telang, while clarifying the queries of the media fraternity, informed that media personnel accredited by Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, shall be exempted from the restrictions on movement for the purpose of news coverage on production of valid ID cards.
Stressing on the necessity of people’s support in breaking the chain of Covid-19 transmission, he urged the public to unite and comply with the guidelines to suppress the Covid spread in the State.
Special DGP, Law & Order, Shri Akshay Sachdeva, informed that people and vehicles involved in the movement of essential food items, LPG, medicines etc. have been exempted from restrictions on movement on production of any valid document as a proof to their link to essential services. He further clarified that passenger, private or government vehicles can be used by people for medical emergencies and visits to vaccination centres for vaccine on production of valid proof (medical certificates, vaccine registration, etc). He also warned of strict action against those flouting the Covid-19 protocols and lockdown guidelines.
Secretary, State Transport Authority, Shri Karma Namgyal Bhutia, briefed about the availability of ambulance services in the State. He informed that out of 242 registered ambulances, only 85 are registered under the Government of Sikkim. The rest of the ambulances are affiliated to individual owners, NGOs, Lion Clubs, Pharma companies and other organisations, he added. Shri Bhutia has, therefore, appealed for immediate ambulance service support from such individuals and organisations on humanitarian grounds so as to avoid any possible scenario of shortage of ambulance services in the State. For extending ambulance service support, one can contact the district RTOs at these numbers:
1) East: 98320-70534
2) Singtam: 99329-29999
3) Jorethang: 94343-39297
4) Gyalshing: 96098-66077
5) Mangan: 94344-84870
