TURA/ SHILLONG, April 28: The decision of the state government to turn Tura town into a containment zone, along with Shillong and Jowai for ten long days, beginning May 1, has been in right earnest given the continuing rise in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 by scores of people returning to the region from other states in the country.
Garo Hills registered its first death from COVID infection on Monday night after a 26-year-old man from South Garo Hills died from complications at Tura Civil Hospital. On the same day, three deaths took place in Shillong.
On Wednesday, though there were no deaths from the virus in any of the five Garo Hills districts, yet, the number of infections continued to rise with almost all attributed to returnees.
In West Garo Hills, 11 new positive cases were detected on Wednesday raising the number of active cases to 68. Among the 11 new positive cases eight happened to be returnees from other states.
“We are going in for vaccination for all those who could not avail the free vaccination camp in the last three days. Those who were left out can get their vaccination done at Dobasipara, Sampalgre and Martchakolgre Urban Health Centres,” announced West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh.
It is worth mentioning that there are still a sizable number of people who refuse to believe in the importance of vaccination to protect against this life-threatening infection, which is fuelling the spike in the disease.
In East Garo Hills, there are 6 active cases with the latest being one Haryana returnee CRPF personnel who tested positive at Dainadubi checkpoint in North Garo Hills on Wednesday. He has been placed under home quarantine at the Samgong camp of the battalion in Williamnagar.
The new strain of the virus has been so powerful that cases of infection of COVID-19 are being detected among the population as remote as South Garo Hills.
In Dambuk area of remote Rongara block of South Garo Hills, a worker engaged with a road construction company tested positive on Wednesday.
Bernard Marak reviews preparedness at Tura CH
State BJP vice president and newly elected MDC, Bernard N Marak, on Wednesday inspected Tura Civil Hospital to review the level of preparedness in handling the ongoing pandemic. Firstly, the MDC and his team inspected the oxygen stock and the ICU rooms in the hospital, which was deemed satisfactory as per report of the Superintendent of Tura Civil Hospital.
“Tura Civil Hospital needs to be in its best state as it acts as the last resort to other four districts of Garo Hills,” said Marak.
He informed that the empty oxygen cylinders will be refilled next week, adding that presently the hospital has more than 200 cylinders ready out of total 444 numbers of cylinders.
“The ICU rooms are also ready and most of the medicines, sanitisers etc are all in stock,” he said.
He, however, said that the government needs to arrange quarantine centres other than the paid ones besides PPE kits which should be procured in advance for frontliners.
“The blood banks also need to be made ready with good supply of blood through proper awareness,” he added.
He asserted that the BJP will assist the state in every way possible to tackle the rise in COVID cases.
“BJP will also monitor supply of ration and other facilities provided by the Centre to the people in general,” he added.
Govt employees directed to remain in station
In view of the increasing cases of COVID and with further restrictions being imposed on the movement of people as part of the containment protocols in Tura for the next ten days, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh has directed all government employees posted in the district, who happen to be residing outside the region, to ensure they remain in the district headquarters with effect from May 1. The order also applies to all civil sub-divisions, Raksamgre and Dadenggre, and stern warning has been issued to anyone violating the order.
