How local communities in the Northeast are helping fight COVID-19

In Nagaland's capital Kohima, the local community has set up quarantine centers in 10 of the city's 19 wards.

Kohima Municipal Council Chairman Kovi Meyase told The Print that such facilities are being maintained by the communities with little help from the government.

Meyase said, "It is the community, which has arranged the wherewithal for these facilities, whether it be in cash or kind."

Upper Chandmari colony houses one of the 10 quarantine facilities in Kohima. This facility—established at a government school—has reportedly received 13 returnees since June and currently accommodates five returnees.

Ward chairman Ketholilie Keditsu constituted a 13-member COVID-19 Action Committee-cum-Task Force.

The task force, which mainly comprises youth volunteers, has been tasked with registering the returnees and managing the community quarantine centers.

The task force volunteers reportedly wear black vests, similar to the ones worn by armed forces, and carry walkie-talkies.

Thejasezo Mor, secretary of the task force, explained, "We don't follow any rota as such because it's a community-based facility, so whoever is free will come and work in the kitchen and do other chores as well."

Kohima Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vezokholu Theyo said, "As days go by, (the communities) have come to know what COVID is. And they're giving awareness to the colony people. It has been of great help," adding that sometimes, there's incongruence between their policies and those of the community groups.

Dimapur Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tiasunep Pongener also said these communities have posed a hindrance.

Dimapur, which shares a porous border with Assam, has the only airport and railway station in Nagaland.

Dr. Pongener said the community helps by catching those who enter through the border that may go unnoticed by authorities.

However, the community is unwilling to take special category returnees including cancer patients for home quarantine, so they have to be kept in institutional quarantine, he said.

In Manipur and Mizoram, local traditions have come in handy with social distancing protocols; such as depositing money in boxes/jars at shops when picking up any item.

In Meghalaya, too, community COVID management teams have been formed, which also include government representatives.

Over 7,000 such committees have been set up in the 6,000 villages and three urban areas of Meghalaya, including Shillong.