TURA: With no case of Covid-19 having surfaced and Garo Hills falling under the green zone category, West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Ram Singh has urged the public to refrain from going into a panic mode even as the state government has put in place several measures to fight the disease.
Chairing a meeting with locality development committee heads and church leaders at his office chamber here on Wednesday afternoon, Ram Singh said, “there is no reason to panic and fear about the disease since as of now the district is a green zone. What we need to do is to strictly follow the necessary protocol issued by the medical department to maintain hand hygiene, wear face mask, maintain social distancing, among others which needs to be continued even after the lock down.”
There have been several instances of people in localities setting up barricades restricting movement of public over fear of infection.
“You cannot barricade because this hinders people’s movement. Being vigilant is one thing and being paranoid is another. Barricades only add to the problem and should be done away with,” said Ram Singh while speaking to The Shillong Times on the sidelines of the meeting with the church and locality leaders.
Taking a strong line against reports about stigmatising of persons and their families who returned from their place of study and work, the deputy commissioner advised against such practices and clarified that these persons have been duly screened on their arrival in the district and have also been under home quarantine which was monitored regularly by the medical team. He also cautioned the elders and minors in the district to stay at home since they are easily susceptible to diseases.
Replying to a query by Reverend Wetterfield Marak, Tura Baptist Church, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner informed that the bodies can be buried in their respective graves and the district administration along with the Municipal Board would also identify a cremation or burial ground for mass graves in the district as per the directions of the State Government.
Further, he also informed that the supply of essential commodities in the district is sufficient and would soon be opening more outlet or sectors for essential commodities in various localities so as to reach out to more people and would also try to facilitate normal activities in the district as soon as possible if notified by the State Government, but by strictly adhering to social distancing and other advisories. He also mentioned that hardware stores would be opened only in emergency cases for those whose house had been damaged by storm, etc.
Joint Director, Garo Hills Region and Superintendent, Tura Civil Hospital, Dr Minakshi Sangma highlighted the necessary precautions to be followed while managing the dead body of COVID-19 patient and that some rituals practised during the burial of the dead cannot be performed in this given situation and it is mandatory to use personal protective equipment (PPE) for those handling or coming in close contact with the dead body. However, she added that the family members can be allowed to see the face but by using PPE only.
Meanwhile, Dr. I M Sangma, DMCHO, Tura informed that immunization of children are being done in all PHC and other private hospitals except the designated hospital for COVID-19 since timely immunization of children is important and urged everyone to cooperate with the medical team especially ASHA’s while discharging their duties in different localities of the district.