Lockdown must be the last resort, says Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 5, 2022

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said the state government is not in favour of re-imposing lockdown to curb spread of the COVID-19 in the state.

“The question of lockdown does not arise and that would be the last resort if we have to. But if you ask me…we do not at all prefer lockdown,” Tynsong said when asked if the government is likely to reimpose lockdown after Omicron cases were detected in the state.

He said the reason is because taking into consideration that people have suffered a lot economically during the past two years.

“The economic activities in our state had suffered a lot and looking back, lockdown would be the last resort,” he reiterated.

Tynsong also urged the citizens of the state to follow strict COVID-19 protocols as this is the only way out for everybody to contain the spread of the virus.

He assured that the state government is fully prepared to tackle any eventuality even as he informed that the state has sufficient numbers of beds and oxygens in place.

When asked about the response from the government employees on vaccination, Tynsong however said, “Not necessarily only the government employees (but) each and every citizen of the state from 15 years and above, our advisory is very clear please get vaccinated as this is the only way out.”

The deputy chief minister also said that he saw in social media people were questioning the reason behind testing positive for COVID-19 even after getting vaccinated.

“Let us be very clear vaccination is to reduce the severity and the fatality though you get infected but severity will not be there and you will not succumb to the virus, that is why the entire world keep pressurizing their citizens to go for vaccination as when you do you will be protected not from the infection but from severity and from succumbing to the virus,” he stated.

Tynsong further appealed to all eligible citizens to get vaccinated since the third wave of the COVID-19 has already started in the state.

“We request the parents and children from 15 years and above who have not taken vaccination to kindly do that at the earliest possible as the third wave had already started. We will be saved only with vaccination otherwise no medicines and there is no solution to this as this virus you don’t know when it will end or leave us but it seems the virus will continue to be here and continue to be in the community and in our households therefore, I request all concerned citizens of the state please get yourselves vaccinated,” he said