TURA, May 5: Having identified the plain-belt region of West Garo Hills to be a potential area for a COVID spike given the rising number of infections being detected from the Rajabala-Bhaitbari-Phulbari-Chibinang-Tikrikilla belt, a mass immunisation drive is currently under way in the region to curb the infection.
“Vaccinations are currently under way and we have also put restrictions in place, but the number of vaccinations is a bit lesser than Tura due to various factors,” says Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Ram Singh.
The plain-belt region, particularly Phulbari town, has been frequently identified with multiple number of infections compelling authorities to lock down parts of the town, most recently the main market, this week.
Given that majority of the public from the plain-belt frequent Tura and other towns for trade and commerce, authorities have put in place strict guidelines and restrictions that include testing for COVID.
On Wednesday, the active COVID cases in the district rose to 172 after 24 new positive cases were detected, a bulk of them being in Tura (12) from Tura Civil Hospital and two from Tura Christian Hospital.
Seven positive cases were detected under Asanang primary health centre of Rongram, one from Purakhasia health centre in the border belt, one at Berubari entry and surveillance point in Bajengdoba and another at Mirjumla checkpoint in South West Garo Hills which screens entry of people from neighbouring Mancachar area of Assam.
Curbs in WGH; Saturday & Sunday total lockdown
Meanwhile on Wednesday, Ram Singh issued a fresh order declaring night curfew in West Garo Hills from 8 pm to 5 am daily. The night curfew which comes into force with immediate effect will continue until further orders.
As per the order, Saturday and Sunday will be total lockdown with exemption for essential goods’ transport and emergencies even as other restrictions and permitted activities issued earlier are also to remain the same until further orders.
The fresh order fixed the working hours of all government offices from 10 am to 4 pm while the opening of non-essential shops will be from 8 am to 12 pm on alternate days i.e. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. (Contd on P-4)
Vaccination under way…
(Contd from P-3) The entry of customers into shops has also been prohibited and shop owners have been directed to maintain a barrier outside their shops while following the protocol of wearing masks and the use of sanitizers.
A warning has been issued to shop owners that any violation of the instructions would lead to the immediate closure of their shops. Customers and the public in general have also been directed to follow all guidelines and protocols of COVID-19 with a warning that penalty would be imposed on all violators by empowered and designated officers.
Meanwhile, in a separate order issued earlier, all weekly markets in the district have also been directed to temporarily close down with effect from the same day (May 5) till May 15. The production of COVID-19 negative certificate issued by competent authorities has also been made mandatory for all traders and businessmen from outside the state with a warning that producing a fake one would be dealt with sternly.