Tura: In a show of support to fight against the Coronavirus, hundreds of young students and other passengers arriving in the region from other parts of the country have taken upon themselves to inform the authorities and register themselves of their arrival and travel history in the state.
Out of the 300 plus calls made to the state registered number (108) as many as 105 calls were made by students and other travelers arriving in Tura on Saturday, informed deputy commissioner Ram Singh.
Teams of medics posted at several screening points along the highway which enters into Garo Hills have been interacting with new arrivals since morning giving them advice on what steps to be taken for self-quarantine to check against the virus.
“We were screened at Bajengdoba and gave our travel history and home addresses. We will be undertaking self-isolation in our homes immediately on arrival,” stated a group of young students who had just arrived from Rajasthan and Haryana.
Spraying of disinfectants
The West Garo Hills district administration has issued a public notice informing that as part of the ‘Janta Curfew’ on Sunday, from 7 am to 9 pm, spraying of disinfectants in different parts of Tura town will take place in the morning and day time.
The spraying of the disinfectants will be primarily on public places such as markets that are frequented by large crowds.
West Garo Hills DC issues order
To contain the transmission of coronavirus in the district, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh issued an order for observing the Coronavirus Awareness Day (CAD) on March 21 in all the villages and localities of the district to sensitize the people and spread information on preventive measures.
The order said that while observing the awareness day, the key messages is to appeal to the people not to panic as observed in other countries and some parts of India, to make them understand that the virus spreads through human-to-human contact, the transmission of which can be prevented effectively by following social distancing and hand-hygiene, will be delivered through the respective headmen or Nokmas, community leaders including the church, VEC, Village Health and Sanitation Committees among others.
Further, the order also sought the cooperation of the community leaders in reaching out to the households and persons who have travelled to the affected countries and places and advise them to follow the “stay at home” advisory by strictly observing self-isolation and said that the medical volunteers and the district surveillance team will reach out to those identified households through phone and visits for providing necessary guidance and care for 14 days.
By calling the 108 help-line, mobile numbers 6009926806 and 8258991324 and by registering their name through online registration system (http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid) created by the government, details of the persons with travel history with their contact numbers may inform the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, the order said.
Caution against spreading false alarm
With a view to contain the spreading of false alarm or warning about the spread of corona virus through social media like WhatsApp, internet, electronic media, etc. leading to panic among the general public, the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner had issued a notification mentioning that spreading of false alarm or warning thereby leading to panic among the people is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 1 year or with fine or both.
