Meghalaya: Public transport to resume services from June 28

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 25, 2021

The state government has decided to allow 15 percent of public transport to resume operation in Shillong from June 28, provided that they display the “vaccinated” or “not vaccinated” signs at prominent places to allow people to make conscious decisions before using their services.

This was informed by the Health Minister AL Hek after a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday.

“From Monday (June 28) onwards, 15 percent of local taxis and auto rickshaws in Shillong will be allowed to resume their operation but they have to display whether they are vaccinated or not. Buses are not allowed,” Hek told reporters.

He however said 30 percent of the public transport will be allowed in the rural areas of East Khasi Hills district and other parts of the state. According to him, the commercial vehicles will have to display certificate of their vaccination status.

Hek informed that restuarants and hotels in the state capital are encouraged to opt for home delivery and take away adding opening of tea-shops in rural areas will also be allowed but customers are restricted to sit inside the shops.

Asked, Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War said that there will be check points to verify whether people operating the commercial vehicles and other businesses are vaccinated or yet to be vaccinated.

He said people who enter a shop or a cab whose status is not vaccinated, it is their own risk.

“The idea of why we ask that people should go for vaccination because we have seen that if you contract the virus after vaccination the disease is not so virulent vis a vis with the people who have not been vaccinated…that is why we stressed get yourselves vaccinated so that you will not burden the health facilities,” Dr War added.

Meanwhile, the health minister informed that the government has also decided to extend the provision kits to people who are staying in the different corona care centres. According to him, all these days such provision kits were only made available to people undergoing home isolation.