Editor,
We all know that home quarantine or isolation means that a person should stay in a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. Further, if another family member needs to stay in the same room, it’s advisable to maintain a distance of at least one meter between the two without sharing personal items with others in the household.
This is good advice but hardly practicable for the large majority of citizens who live in small houses along with elders that have co-morbid conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renal disease etc. Most of those told to isolate themselves share same household items eat in the same kitchen, share the same toilet and other personal items with other family members as well. Those who have tested positive therefore infected others in the family. This is the reason for the widespread infection in the second wave.
Further, home quarantine demands that all surfaces that are likely to be touched are regularly disinfected and sanitized. They include tabletops, doorknobs, handles, etc. But is that even possible or affordable for most in our society? Hence, with a heavy heart I plead with the authorities to discourage home quarantine. We need Covid Care Centres now more than ever before to isolate returnees and those recuperating from Covid. There are school and college hostels, hotels, schools, stadiums etc., for Covid victims or those exposed to the infection. To contain the pandemic the District administration and the Community institutions have to work in close coordination.
Yours etc.,
Iahmi Khyriem
Chutwakhu Jowal
Spare a thought for healthcare workers
Editor,
In these last few days, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with some healthcare workers in a private hospital in Shillong and got to know and see upfront the conditions in which they are working during the current surge of the pandemic. The unrelenting rise of Covid-19 positive cases in Shillong has necessitated hospitals to increase Covid wards and many of the admitted patients are requiring intensive care. Healthcare workers are experiencing an unprecedented level of physical and emotional stress and exhaustion every day. Yesterday, one of the nurses narrated how he was able to have dinner at 2 am due to the demand of attending to Covid patients. Many doctors and nurses in this hospital are now staying in makeshift arrangements at this hospital campus due to increased cases and for the safety of their families. In doing their duties, these health workers are risking their lives every day in this Covid war zone. Acknowledging this invaluable service by the healthcare workers, some states have announced and provided special monetary incentives for these workers. It is time that Meghalaya comes out with a special financial incentive for those who are directly involved in treating and interacting with Covid patients, particularly those working on a contract basis in government hospitals and private sector workers who do not enjoy the salaries and perks of government employees.
Additionally, there is also a lack of clarity on the status of implementation of the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Package for Health Workers Fighting Covid-19 in the state. This scheme which was launched in March 2020 provides compensation up to Rupees 50 lakh to families of healthcare workers who lose their lives due to Covid-19 and was recently extended for another one year from 20th of April 2021. However, one is not sure about the coverage of this scheme in Meghalaya. Is there a separate State Government notification on this? What categories of health workers working in government and private hospitals are covered by this scheme? Is there any separate insurance scheme of the State Government for healthcare and frontline workers? While no amount of money and other incentives can compensate for the services rendered and sacrifices endured by the healthcare workers, the financial incentives and insurance coverage are the least that we should extend to them as a mark of our gratitude and to show that we care.
Yours etc.,
Sumarbin Umdor,
Via emai
On closure of markets
Editor,
The Government’s decision to shut down two major markets in urban Shillong due to violations of Covid safety protocols by shoppers is partially acceptable. However, this action could also lead to negative consequences which the Government has not envisaged. During any crisis, be it war, a civil uprising or in the present case a pandemic, the most basic survival kit apart from a home is food. A person will go to any lengths to be able to buy food to feed the family and to survive the crisis. The decision to shut down the markets will result in people straying to other areas beyond Shillong where the pandemic has not touched and result in spreading the infection in areas presently declared as pandemic free zones or green zones. If smaller villages are overcrowded it will again violate Covid prevention protocols.
Another problem is that people from the city who stray to these small markets have the propensity to hoard and buy off everything they can lay their hands on. Shopkeepers in these communities will never stock more than what people in these communities demand, especially if the commodities are perishable ones. Hence while the city folks can buy up everything there will be nothing left for the people residing in these villages.
If the Government desires that people do not stray beyond their daily shopping areas, it should reconsider opening these two markets and also encourage spaced roadside sale of essential commodities which will result in shoppers spreading to multiple roadside shops instead of accumulating in a few shops permitted by the government.
Yours etc.,
J. Paul & S. Rynjah,
Via email
Let’s fight together
Editor,
The citizens of Meghalaya have seen a beacon of light in the challenging times as MLAs of different political parties joined hands yesterday to fight the second wave of COVID and ramping up of the infrastructure to tackle any probable occurrence of the third wave of the deadly pandemic. The formation of the “Political alliance” gives a clear signal; a signal to the politicians at the Centre and some states that the priority in the present times must be to maintain “Political Unity” and not to create a Political turmoil. However, following COVID appropriate behaviour by citizens is the “self-administered vaccine” to flatten the COVID curve. Though it’s an uphill task for the frontline workers and the doctors to control the spread of the disease, I would urge them to carry on their work with dedication and selflessness keeping in mind that history is always enriched by the legacy of those who rendered their tireless service for the welfare of humanity. Moreover, various organisations and the village chiefs can implement the observation made by John F. Kharshiing, Chairman of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya i.e. doing door to door campaigning in their villages to control the spread of the virus. It is expected that the Centre doesn’t just beat the drums of “Parivartan” but distribute vaccines to the states in a time bound manner.
Yours etc.,
Partha Pratim Duarah
Via email
Harrowing time to get vaccine slot
Editor,
Those of us who have taken the first dose of vaccine went to the health centre directly and were vaccinated the same day. We were asked to come after 28 days for the second dose. Now we are being informed that for the second dose we are to come after 12 to 16 weeks and book the slot online. I simply wonder at the wisdom of the government. How does it think that it’s feasible for all citizens to apply online to get their respective covid jabs done, be it first or second? How many citizens are so tech-savvy as to work competently online and to book a slot? Is it not ironic that with most of the citizens being uneducated the Government should insist on citizens applying for the vaccine online? Only a fraction of the population know what CoWin is and much less the procedure to operate it.
Let the system be simplified by involving the Dorbars and volunteers locality-wise or for that matter a door to door visit would be easier to accomplish this gigantic task.
Yours etc.,
P P Choudhury
Shillong-11