TURA, May 3: West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, on Monday enforced containment measures in areas covered under Selsella, Demdema and Tikrikilla blocks in an attempt to protect citizens, particularly those belonging to the plain-belt areas, from the second wave of COVID-19.
As per the order, all political, social, public and religious gatherings have been banned in the said areas.
However, weddings and funerals are allowed to take place provided that not more than 30 persons attend the event and prior permission is taken from the concerned authority. Weekly markets have been restricted to only agriculture products and vegetables and all places of religious worship shall remain closed.
The opening of essential commodities shops subject to regulation on days and timings to be decided by the designated authorities will be as per the list given in the earlier order dated April 21.
Shops dealing in hardware, electrical, plumbing, sanitary ware, computer service centres, mobile repair shops and automobile repair shops have been allowed to function from 8 am to 5 pm.
The order also discouraged all non-essential movement of people with a warning that those violating the movement protocol or falsely making self declaration shall be liable for penal action as per law.
All other essential services like healthcare, agriculture and veterinary, home deliveries, movement of students, water supply, information and public relations and construction activities besides others have been exempted from the purview of the order.
Positive cases in Tura hotels & resort
West Garo Hills authorities detected forty new COVID-19 cases on Monday with the largest number coming from Tura Civil Hospital, while two hotels in Tura and a resort in Rongram also found inhabitants who tested positive. There are now 155 active cases in the district.
While 18 cases were detected at the civil hospital, four others were found at the Christian hospital. Out of these 22 new cases in the hospitals, 8 happen to be returnees.
Two positive cases were detected from Raj Kamal hotel and Rikman Continental hotel, both in the heart of Tura bazar. One returnee who had taken up lodging at Chenik Resort in Asanang (Rongram) also tested positive for the virus.
The infection rate continues to spread to far flung areas also with Purakhasia located on the border with Bangladesh detecting five positive cases, while another four were found in Jeldopara primary health centre and 2 from Phulbari hospital in the plain belt.
Meanwhile, with the virus fast spreading in the plain belt region of the district, authorities have begun an intensified covid vaccination drive for citizens aged 45 and above in the region.
“All are requested to spread the message to get themselves vaccinated. Please follow covid protocols sincerely, wear a mask, keep social distance and follow hand hygiene,” urged the deputy commissioner Ram Singh.
Order against public gatherings in NGH
Meanwhile, the District Magistrate of North Garo Hills has issued an order imposing restrictions on certain activities within the district.
The order issued in this regard prohibited any form of political, public, social and religious gathering including conference, meeting and training till May 15.
Weddings and funerals, however, are permitted with prior permission from the district magistrate subjected to maximum ceiling of 30 persons.
As per the order, entry of tourists from outside the state will not be permitted and all tourists spots will remain closed.
Interstate border trade has also been restricted and traders from neighbouring states will have to undergo RAT or produce negative test report of RAT/RTPCR. The order also suspended sports activities temporarily in the district.
