Congress slams MDA over COVID mismanagement

1SHILLONG: The Opposition Congress has criticised the inability of the MDA government to manage the C,/OVID crisis.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Congress spokesperson Zenith Sangma along with other legislators expressed concern and discontentment over the manner in which the government is handling the COVID issue.
Sangma pointed out that from the beginning, the government did not handle the situation properly especially when the returnees started arriving.
“It is strange that several returnees were sent for home quarantine after random tests without even waiting for the results”, Sangma said.
The government realised the mistake late and started RT-PCR tests, he said.
According to the Congress leader, many times the test results came only after several returnees were sent home and by that time, transmission of the virus may have taken place from those who eventually tested positive.
Regarding the armed and paramilitary forces, Sangma said that the government should have foreseen the movement of the personnel.y
“The government reacted very late in checking the movement of the BSF and other forces to the state”, Sangma said.
According to the legislator, whoever the returnee might be, the government should be strict as far as adhering to the protocols is concerned.
‘Reveal the names’
Commenting on the stigma of the patients as claimed by the government, the Congress leader said that revealing the names of the positive patients will only help the people who can take precautions.
“In a situation where you do not know who is affected, you may also get affected as the names are not made available by the government”, he said.
Sangma wanted to know how the people could protect themselves when they do not know about the positive patients.
He gave an example of a positive patient in South West Garo Hills who was known to the residents and hence they were able to take adequate precautions.
“The residents are also supporting the patient and hence I want to know from the government where the stigma is involved in it”, Sangma said.
He said the government is not creating awareness and hence there is a fear of stigma.