COVID-19: HYC demands govt to seal borders, disclose identity of positive patients

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 9, 2020

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has demanded the state government to seal the interstate and international borders to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the state instead of imposing total lockdown that will affect the economy of the people.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said, “The state should immediately seal the interstate and international borders.”

He said the number of positive cases have been rising exponentially in neighbouring Assam and Bangladesh.

“Movement of people in and out of the state should be immediately stopped except for transportation of essential commodities and medical emergencies, provided all protocols are strictly followed by all concerned. We acknowledge that export will improve the livelihood of the people, but the risk of possible infection is too high and therefore it will be in the fitness of things if the decision to allow cross border trade be reversed immediately in the interest of the people of the state,” Kharjahrin said.

The HYC has asked the government to stop engaging skilled interstate migrants as there is every likelihood such people may violate the SOPs and guidelines and thus putting everyone at risk as it suggested that postings and transfers of military and paramilitary personnel in the state should also be temporarily stopped.

Admitting that there is a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, Kharjahrin however said that the Council is of the opinion that re-imposition of total lockdown in the entire state will badly affect the economy of the state.

“In order to avert community transmission of COVID-19, we suggest that those areas in which positive cases are present must be declared as containment zones and buffer zones as the case may be,” he said.

The HYC also suggested the need to constitute a COVID-19 Advisory Board to upscale the efforts at containing the COVID-19. It proposed that the board to be headed by CM or Deputy CM as chairman may include the leader of opposition, Assembly Speaker, health minister, health professionals (4) and scientists (2) well versed with the issue of COVID-19 as members. The DHS (MI) may assume the role of member secretary of the board so constituted.

Meanwhile, the HYC has demanded the government to disclose the identity of positive patients and people under quarantine as this will help contain the spread of the disease.

“We firmly believe that the people of our state have risen above stigmatization. The mistakes of the past were perhaps a result of panic and lack of information on COVID-19 and other related issues. Hence, declaration of the identity of the positive patients and people under quarantine is the need of the hour as this will help the people to take necessary precautions to contain the spread of COVID-19,” it stated.