Shillong: The Health and Family Welfare department has issued a series of directives to headmen of respective localities to follow the guidelines given by the department to check the spread of COVID-19.
In the directives, the headmen were asked to ensure that social distancing is maintained in their localities, villages, especially during the buying of essential commodities in the shops.
They are bound to cooperate and coordinate with the government in this time of crisis. Travel history of anyone residing in the locality should be verified.
There should be strict vigil on individuals who arrived in the locality from COVID stricken areas and 14 days of quarantine should be followed. The headmen should also do a follow up on persons under home quarantine.
The directive added that the headmen should ensure that no family irrespective of their social and religious background starve during the period of lockdown.
Any family in distress should be brought to the notice of the respective deputy commissioners and necessary help should be made available.
Locality PA system should be used for announcements especially about coronavirus.
Hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette should also be maintained. Spitting in public should not be allowed.
The headmen should see to it that no stigma should be attached to any COVID-19 suspect or person with travel history while undergoing home quarantine.
Inter-house visits should be disallowed unless for the purpose of providing assistance when required while maintaining social distancing.