Pothashang News Service: Imphal, March 7, 2020: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has appealed to the people of the state to avoid mass gathering during the five-day Yaoshang (Holi) festival in wake of COVID-19 outbreak over the globe.
“Let us come together and work to prevent this deadly disease from spreading to ourselves and to our community,” Biren said in statement released on Saturday.
Today COVID-19 has spread to over 88 countries across the world affecting more than 1 lakh people. Though there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 in Manıpur as yet however given the fact that the virus has affected our country as well with 31 confirmed cases it is the right time to take utmost precaution for the safety of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities, he added.
Manipur shares an international border with Myannmar, which itself neighbours China, the country in which the first outbreak of the disease was reported. As we may be aware one of
the modes of transmission of the disease is mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Therefore, one of the preventive measures to be taken is to avoid participation in large gatherings, the chief minister said.
The ministry of health and family welfare has also issued an office memorandum on March 5 advising that mass gatherings may be avoided or possibly be postponed till the disease spread is contained, he added.
“I am deeply concerned that one of the biggest festivals of Manipur, namely Yaoshang is around the corner The celebration of the festival includes playing with colours, Thabal Chongba (traditional dance), sports events and public functions over a period of five days and all of which involve large community gathering and people-to-people contact. Since safety and health of people is of prime concern, I appeal to the people of my state to avoid such mass gatherings and reduce the scale of the celebration,” Biren said.
He assured that the government has taken all precautionary and preparatory measures to deal with any eventuality in the event of the outbreak reaching the state.
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