NONGSTOIN, May 11: Dismissing the question of community transmission in the district, West Khasi Hills district administration has exuded confidence in its preparedness to tackle the second wave of COVID-19 in the district even as it expressed concerns about low turnout for vaccination among the public.
West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner T Lyngwa told The Shillong Times here that so far there is no community spread of COVID-19 in West Khasi Hills. Nonetheless, in keeping with its measures to keep the virus in abeyance, the district administration has declared 15 micro-containment zones in some areas till date.
Stating that the district is prepared to deal with COVID-19, Lyngwa informed about the hiccups in the vaccination process.
As per records till May 10, as many as 22,000 individuals have been vaccinated, informed Lyngwa while adding that he hopes that this week West Khasi Hills will surpass inoculating 50 per cent of the population in the age group 45 years and above.
Talking about the hurdles, Lyngwa said that some areas of West Khasi Hills like Mairang, Myriaw, Nongthliew and Rambrai have low vaccination turnout because the locals have been influenced and misled by rumours about the coronavirus vaccine.
The DC, therefore, allayed fears of the general public and called upon them to come forward for vaccination, calling it the only hope in the fight against COVID-19.
“Even Delhi, which has one of the best healthcare systems in the country, met with shortage of medical oxygen and people have been compelled to stay outside the hospital because there is no bed. If the same situation like in Delhi is in West Khasi Hills then it will be a nightmare. So I urge all the people of West Khasi Hills, especially people who are 45 years old and above, to get vaccinated while 18 years above to register online for the vaccination drive,” the deputy commissioner lamented.
Meanwhile, the district administration and the Civil Sub-Division of Mairang and Mawshynrut along with health workers have organised an awareness campaign for the people of different villages in the district to take their doses of the vaccine.
