By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 18: Health Minister, James PK Sangma on Saturday slammed the state unit of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) for its call to the state government to review the state’s preparedness for tackling the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and not be complacent.
“We don’t need the Opposition, or whoever it may be, to tell us what we should do. The government is doing its job and things are already in place,” Sangma said responding to the statement of AITC state spokesperson, Himalaya M Shangpliang.
“We are aware of the situation and the Chief Secretary has taken a review of the matter. Our department is also reviewing the situation on a regular basis,” he added.
Shangpliang had stated that although only two cases of Omicron were detected in the Northeast so far, the Health department should not be complacent. He had advised it to start taking precautionary measures, including vaccination of citizens.
He had also stated that people manning the check gates at Umling and other places should be vigilant and active in checking people coming from outside the state, particularly those who returned from abroad.
The Health Minister had earlier stated the government invested around Rs 14.4 crore in private hospitals in preparation for an anticipated third wave of the pandemic.
Stating that people coming from outside are being checked whether or not they are vaccinated and made to undergo tests, he said certain new protocols have been put in place and the government is trying to make sure everyone adapts to the changing situations.
The Minister had said the government wants to make sure the virus does not enter the state and spread like wildfire. It will be a challenging task to achieve 100% vaccination by Christmas as envisaged but the government is optimistic about it, he had stated.