Dorbar shnong demands containment of a media house in Shillong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 22, 2020

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War on Saturday said that the state government would soon take a call on the need to declare one of the media houses in the state as a containment area.

Dr War informed that so far three employees, including a machine man, a driver and a helper, of The Shillong Times have been tested positive for COVID-19.   

“We have submitted a report and the state government will take a call to contain that particular area,” he said.

Asked, Dr War informed that samples of over 70 employees of the newspaper have been collected and sent for testing. He said initially, the management of the office had submitted only a list of 20 employees.

According to him, all are advised to strictly follow quarantine norms issued by the health department to prevent further spread of the virus.

“If employees are forced to come to work, they can always file a complaint to us,” he said.

Concerning the delay, the Dorbar Shnong of Kench’s Trace, Oxford Hill & Rilbong has urged the district administration of East Khasi Hills to immediately declare the office building of The Shillong Times, Rilbong as a containment area.

“This matter is more serious now as there are more positive cases in different localities under this dorbar shnong (KOR). Given this situation and in order to contain the further spread of the virus, we, therefore urge the district administration to kindly take steps to declare the office building of The Shillong Times, Rilbong as a containment building/area immediately for safety and security of all the residents of the locality and the public at large,” headman Glanding Lyngdoh said in a letter to the deputy commissioner, Matsiewdor War Nongbri on Saturday.

He said the dorbar shnong through the health department has urged the government to contain the office building but till date no steps has been taken.

“Unfortunately, today we have received information from the staffs of the health department that another two more persons who are working in this same office, were tested positive of COVID-19,” Lyngdoh said.