Meghalaya Govt imposes total lockdown in Shillong after spike in COVID-19 cases
The state government has decided to impose a two-day ‘total lockdown’ in the capital city from July 13, following the sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Announcing this after chairing a review meeting on Saturday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “The government has decided (that the) next two working days on July 13 and 14 shall be observed in Shillong city agglomeration region as ‘lockdown the virus through behavior change’.”
Sangma said during this period, Shillong city and the surrounding areas will be under curfew until 0600 hrs of July 15.
Stating that more than 95% of cases that are presently active in the state are from Shillong, the CM said two distinct and worrisome characteristics of this virus are its high transmissibility and its invisible nature (asymptomatic).
The number of active cases in Shillong has increased to 205 active cases of which 159 are BSF jawans as on Saturday.
He said the only way to handle the spread of the virus is to understand these two important characteristics of this virus by every individual adding the right understanding will lead to right behaviour among everyone for taking responsibility of their actions, both in personal and public space.
“This behaviour change is possible only by strengthening the capacity of every individual by practicing the necessity to wear a mask, maintain physical distancing and practicing hand hygiene to isolate the virus in their own space,” the CM asserted.
The CM said that the lockdown will be productively used by the Community Covid Management Committees and the newly set up Behaviour Change Management Committees of various localities to inculcate awareness about the cardinal principles of ‘behaviour change at the household level.
“Remember we need to fight and isolate this virus together, not just the government or the health workers, but we all need to be covid warriors,” he further added.
According to him, this lockdown period will also be used for tracing the contacts of the positive persons who are in Shillong so that further spread may be contained. The CM also appealed to all citizens to strictly adhere to the lockdown so that the virus can be isolated.
The decision was also taken following the recent incident related to a wedding party held in a resort at neighbouring Assam, after the attendees were found to have violated the COVID-19 protocols leading to fear of community spread.
The wedding attendees had returned directly to Shillong without going for mandatory registering and screening at the entry point at Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi.
Asked if community spread has taken place in the city, the CM said, “It is too early to say…but as of now the situation is serious and we are going for contact tracing of the positive people.”
“We must realize that BSF camp, which is the largest cluster having almost 80 percent of active cases (in Shillong), is like a separate entity and one should not look into this number and come to conclusion regarding the overall situation in the state. There is need to look into civilians,” he said.
To another query, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong however said imposition of lockdown or curfew alone is not the solution as it is important for all to play their role as covid warriors to contain the spread of the disease.
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Our STATE CM and other High Authorities should send one letter stating that these Jawans shouldn’t be sent out for leave vacations or come inside the state till the situation or some Vaccine or medication comes into market… I live in Air force and out here Officers don’t follow the rules either they go out of state but don’t stay in Quarenteine but they strictly apply these rules to Civilians residing here at Air force campus.. They don’t even get their vehicle sanitised or get themselves screened they throw parties at their homes too.. All these should be taken seriously nor they let us go out for our works please do something let these problems be heard by our Hoble CM Shri Conrad Sangma. They think they are the ruler here this air force gate is closed since lockdown but so many locals here getting jobless due to this but their kids can come here from another state for Holidays but we can’t go for our work… They can throw parties while we follow every rules thoroughly strictly yet they don’t let us go for our job we facing rough and hard times here.. But recently two air force personnel they found out that they are corona positive so just see they even came inside this air force camp they lived for two days and later they turned out to be corona positive so please forward these to high authorities and solve our problems… It’s hard life here