It is not often that the World Health Organisation (WHO) commends a State Government on its efficient handling of an epidemic, or in the present case, a pandemic. Normally it is the country that is lauded. Since Meghalaya today has the least number of Covid infections due to strict handling of incoming returnees from different states and overall vigilance in observance of standard protocols for keeping Covid at bay, the State certainly merits commendation. When compared to other cities in the region, particularly Guwahati, where people are least bothered about social distancing and wearing masks, people of Shillong, the districts headquarters, the suburbs and the villages as well have been most compliant, especially about wearing masks. At this juncture it is important to remember that there are several people and institutions that are responsible for keeping the Covid numbers low and at a manageable level. Firstly, the State Government and its excellent team down the line must be acknowledged for their vigilance. The check gate at the Byrnihat entry point has been very well spoken of by visitors entering the state. The checking and testing is meticulous yet the officials manning the entry point and dealing with visitors are courteous.
In tackling Covid in the state, the traditional institutions have played a stellar role. In fact they have been the talking point on national television. What also caught the attention of national news channels is that those students and workers from Meghalaya living and working or studying outside the state but who returned recently were not called migrants but “returnees.” This they felt was a unique and respectable term. The Deputy Commissioners (DC) of all districts and their team who spend considerable time scanning their computers for applicants of curfew passes and other permissions have executed their tasks highly professionally. Officials of the district administration have worked under great pressure especially in the early days of the pandemic when protocols had to be worked out and executed.
In dealing with a new, unpredictable virus like Covid19, some errors are inevitable but they need to be quickly corrected without creating chaos for the Institution. The case of the pregnant woman who later delivered a baby boy at NEIGRIHMS is a case in point. The woman tested Covid positive but not after she had been in the Labour room and other testing facilities and was handled by unsuspecting health- care givers. The woman and her husband returned from Delhi and both tested negative but her husband later tested positive. With Covid, any slip-up can prove costly. Meghalaya has done well so far but eternal vigilance by all – citizens, health-care providers, Government etc., is necessary to contain the virus.