SHILLONG: A day after a doctor from Bethany Hospital tested positive for COVID-19, the state cabinet decided to follow old protocols prevailing in the state and all the decisions taken during the cabinet meeting on Monday were nullified.
The decisions on Monday prior to the positive case were regarding certain relaxations from April 15 after the curfew and lockdown was imposed in the state.
“The cabinet decided to follow the old protocols to which new notification will be issued,” said Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, while informing that inter-district movement will be restricted.
The chief minister said that the detailed government advisories will be issued and notified on supply of essential commodities.
On the COVID-19 positive case, the chief minister informed that one of the relatives of the patient had travel history to some of the affected countries. “We cannot say it will be evidence but the most likely scenario is linked to the travel history of one of the family members. We are still investigating the matter,” the chief minister said.
(He also informed that the family member of the doctor, who was tested positive, returned to Shillong and registered himself with 108 and remained in self quarantine.
No stigmatisation
The chief minister urged the citizens not to stigmatise the patient or their family members, as the virus can attack anybody, and it does not look at caste, creed, religion or geographical boundaries.
“It is time for the citizens to act responsibly. I would urge the citizens of Meghalaya, particularly Shillong city not to stigmatise, this is the time when we have to show to the rest of the world and the country that we are together and we will fight this together,” the chief minister added.
He urged the people not to overreact but be careful. “Be careful for yourself and I am sure that by doing the basic things, you will be able to protect yourself. It is very important to also know and people should understand that it is not that if you get infected you will be on ventilator and you will be fighting for your life,” the chief minister added.
Quoting records from different countries that 85% of the cases are mild, the chief minister said, “A lot of cases are asymptomatic with people do not even showing any symptoms. And within a period of anything between 14 to 21 days, people recover on their own.”
