Manipur extends lockdown till 15 July, inter-district bus services to continue; state coronavirus cases rise to 1,092

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said his government decided to extend the ongoing lockdown for another 15 days from 1 to 15 July in the state, which has so far reported a total of 1,092 cases. The lockdown was supposed to be lifted on 30 June. Singh also announced that inter-district bus service will be operational between 1 and 15 July maintaining all COVID-19 safety measures and no other public transport will ply during this period. The decision about continuing with the bus service beyond 15 July will be taken later, officials said. About the coronavirus situation, the chief minister said the state now has 660 active cases while 432 patients have been recovered and released from hospitals. The testing capacity in Manipur has increased to nearly 2,600 tests per day, he said adding that there is no case of community transmission of the disease in the state. All positive cases are returnees except seven frontline workers who were in direct contact with patients, Singh said.