SHILLONG, April 22: With the COVID-19 pandemic situation turning critical in Meghalaya, the state government has adopted a two-pronged strategy — more restrictions and aggressive vaccination drive — to prevent the cases from spiraling out of control.
The government has set a goal of vaccinating 25,000 to 30,000 people a day to ensure that around 80% of the 6.5 lakh target population, aged above 45 years and need immediate vaccination, get the jabs early.
In addition to the vaccination drive, the government has also imposed additional restrictions, quite similar to those in 2020, to curb the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the state.
All shops dealing in non-essential items would be closed from April 26 till May 2.
As per an order issued by the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate, computer stores and repair shops, stationery and book stalls, automobile showrooms and car wash units, gift shops, furniture shops, photo studios, clothes and garments, musical instruments, textiles, sports equipment including cycle shops, tailoring shops, dry cleaners, footwear, bridal shop, ornaments, toy shops, home appliances, sewing, craft and novelty shops, home furnishing, flower shops, mattress and quilt shops, emporiums, electronic items and nail salons, kitchen appliances including crockery, tattoo studios, watches and clocks, spas, dance studios, driving schools and cosmetic shops would be closed from April 26 till May 2.
The order will be applicable in the whole of Shillong Municipal area, Cantonment areas, all areas under Mawlai C&RD Block including Census towns, Mawpat C&RD Block including Census towns, Mylliem C&RD Block from Umshyrpi Bridge upto 7th Mile, Upper Shillong, Madanrting, Mawblei, Laitkor, Nongkseh, Umlyngka and Lawsohtun.
Additionally, the government has made RT-PCR testing mandatory for all entrants to the state and closed down all tourist spots in East Khasi Hills till April 30. All schools, colleges and other institutes have been closed till May 3.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday stated that the government is going for target-based and focused approach, which is expected to lead to saturation in certain circles and areas and groups, and added, “Yesterday (Wednesday), we had about 4,000 people vaccinated and today, we are touching 8,500. We have doubled the vaccination and I am hopeful that with the involvement of the MLAs, we should be able to touch the 25,000-30,000 mark within the next two days”.
“We have only 6.5 lakh people who are above the age of 45. If you add the frontline workers to it, the number will go up by 1.5 lakh. So, it’s not a very big number. We are hopeful that we can cover this group of people in the next two-three weeks. Our focus is on vaccinating 80% of our population at the earliest,” the CM said.
Explaining the situation, he said the current wave is much more aggressive where transmission is much higher due to multiple reasons but the advantage is that the state has the experience of last year.
“We have a plan. We believe that if the vaccination drive goes well and we can cover 70-80% of the population in the next two-four weeks, we will be able to protect our people better. That is the difference between last time and this time,” Sangma said.
He added: “The vaccination is not going as per our plans. There is fear among people and I would like to say that more than 1.8 lakh doses have been administered in the state and nobody has faced any serious problems. One or two people might have had fever and allergies but it has not affected anybody severely”.
He said a study has shown that out of the nearly 75 million people vaccinated, less than 100 had tested positive after taking the two doses.
He said the government has also decided to vaccinate taxi drivers and truckers, who commute inter-state, and shopkeepers and traders.
He said a lockdown will be the last thing that the government will do.
“We are balanced in our approach. We are trying to give the economic opportunity to the people but if the norms are not followed, we will have to take very strict measures,” he warned.
He advised the shopkeepers to take the COVID shots. He said a number of shops have been sealed for not adhering to the norms and this process will continue in the coming days.
“We are sending a strict message to all shopkeepers and others that if the norms are not followed, we will close down the shops and seal them for their safety and the safety of the people,” he added.
DC warns against hoarding
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo on Thursday informed that the wholesale and the retail prices of rice, sugar, pulses, oil and potato have been revised on April 21 due to the increase in prices of essential commodities at source and based on the freight and other charges till Shillong.
She informed that an order has been given to the open market traders dealing in essential commodities to refrain from hoarding of stocks which will lead to panic buying and artificial shortage.
She said that essential food items should not exceed the rates as fixed by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner.
“Stern action will be taken against the defaulters. As the stock in the market is sufficient and closely being monitored, it is appealed to the consumers to not resort to panic buying,” Laloo added.
