TURA/ NONGSTOIN, July 8: As many as 14 inmates from the Tura district jail on Thursday were found positive for COVID-19 during an active surveillance conducted by the district COVID surveillance teams.
“Following recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Ri Bhoi jail, we decided to go for mass RT-PCR testing of the prisoners and the jail staff, and detected 14 positive cases. Out of these 14 positive cases only four displayed symptoms. Necessary quarantine and isolation measures have been put in place in the jail itself,” informed West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh.
The DC also revealed that barring 2-3 prisoners who were having underlying health issues, all prisoners and jail staff have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
“With the recent outbreak in Ri Bhoi, we did not leave anything to chance. We went in for mass vaccination for everyone, including those who could not provide any identification papers,” informed Singh.
According to the DC, over 200 inmates in the Tura district jail have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
It was also informed by the DC that although stringent measures are in place to check the virus spread, the new Delta variant has been continuing to infect people across different regions.
He also said that the vaccination programmes, which are currently under way in towns and villages, are gaining momentum with a large number of people coming forward to get vaccinated.
Local, church leaders asked to raise awareness on vaccination
West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner T Lyngwa has sought the intervention of the local authority and church leaders to disseminate awareness on the benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 and the need to keep rumours at arm’s length.
The DC made the appeal during a meeting on Thursday which was attended by members of the Citizen Support Committee (CSC), Syiem of Hima Nongstoin church leaders, DM&HO, medical teams from Health department, et al.
DM&HO Dr. SA. Lyngdoh, during the meeting, expressed concern over the rising active cases. She added that out of recent deaths, a majority of the deceased were found unvaccinated.