Govt directs health dept to go for aggressive vaccination drive against COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 14, 2021

The state government has directed the health department to go for an aggressive vaccination drive to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

“We have instructed the health department to go for vaccination drive aggressively (in view of the sudden surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state),” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters after a review meeting held on Wednesday.

He said the health department was also asked to increase the number of vaccination centres across the state. At present there are 250 vaccination centres.

According to him, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has instructed all the states to focus the vaccination drives for people who are 45 years and above.

Tynsong also said the government has also re-activated the various committees headed by the deputy commissioners, block development officers and traditional heads in order to jointly fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

With regard to the entry of people from outside the state, the deputy chief minister further informed that the government has also asked the tourism department to immediately hold a meeting with all the stakeholders including hoteliers.

“The department is asked to provide necessary feedback for the government to accordingly take decisions,” he said.

On the returnees from Kumb Mela, the deputy chief minister said the state government has made it mandatory for all returnees/entrants to the state from outside NE region for COVID-19 tests.

“All returnees (also from Kumb mela) or anyone visiting the state from outside NE region are to mandatorily produce RT-PCR test results (valid for 72 hours),” he said.

As of today, about a 100 patients have tested positive for COVID-19, he said, adding that the COVID-19 situation is alarming.

“Therefore, I also request all citizens of the state to please take care and note that behavioral change is important to prevent spread of the pandemic,” he said.

When asked, Tynsong reiterated that the question of imposing lockdown does not arise. “However, we will be reviewing the situation periodically,” he added.