SHILLONG/ NONGPOH, May 5: The District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer, on Wednesday, asked those persons who had visited the Out Patient Department (OPD) of the veterinary hospital, Lumdiengjri, between April 29 and May 5 to contact their nearest health centre.
This message was conveyed after the detection of a covid-19 positive case at the hospital.
Awareness programme
An awareness programme to enlighten police officials on the current COVID-19 scenario and advocate the importance of vaccination was held on Wednesday at the police headquarters.
During the awareness programme, Dr Sandor Rudy L Nongbri, medical officier, CHC Umsning, discussed the new COVID-19 variant, different types of vaccines and the need to immunise the community in order to prevent surge in COVID-19 cases.
He also dispelled several rumours about the current vaccination drive and cleared the doubts of many officials regarding effects of the vaccine on people with comorbidities, lactating mothers and pregnant women.
Micro-containment zones
The District Magistrate of Ri Bhoi has declared the some compounds of residents of three villages in the district as micro-containment zone with effect from May 4 till may 12.
These are: compound of Lastnokhel Jalong, Kobest Khymdeit, Jewing Nongpoh, Jrel Nongshli, Shos Muktieh, (L) Wolter Sohshen, Seibor Barim, Kobes Khymdeit, Jrel Nongsli, Hening Jalong, (L) Phrin Myrsing, Pyrkhat Mujai, Paswel Mujai, and (L) Shaking Marboh of Khweng village and the compounds of Erbok Rynjah of Liarkhla village and (L) Ekland Syngkli of Liarsluid village, respectively.
It may be mentioned that this has been done after COVID-19 positive cases were detected at Khweng, Liarkhla and Liarsluid village in Ri Bhoi.
Guidelines for disposal of bodies
In another order, the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi issued the guidelines for disposal of bodies in the district.
The DC, in the order, said that the body after having been sealed as per the instructions and transferred to the coffin can be taken to the residence of the deceased person. It is, however, advised to not take the coffin inside the house instead it may be kept outside, it added.
A maximum of 20 persons are allowed to visit on the same day or latest by 2 pm of the following day of the death, burial or cremation to avoid undue delays, it said.
“Viewing of the body by unzipping the face end of the body bag by those persons performing the burial using standard precautions may be allowed for relatives to see the body one last time. Bathing, kissing, hugging etc the body is prohibited, religious rituals which does not require touching of the body are allowed and only 30 members are allowed to be present with strict maintenance of the social distancing at crematorium or burial ground. The depth of the burial grave should be about 6 ft and for those cremated, ashes can be collected for last rites as it do not pose any risk,” the DC said.
All the burial staff or volunteers and family members presented in the deceased’s house or burial ground should practice standard precautions of hand hygiene, use of surgical masks and gloves and repeated hand hygiene after burial. The vehicle after transferring the body to the burial staff should be decontaminated with 1 per cent of Sodium Hypochlorite.
On the other hand, the DC has advised that general funerals can be buried or cremated at the earliest with minimum gathering to prevent transmission of the virus.
