SHILLONG: With the exponential rise in the number of COVID-19 cases seen in the state of late, the Jaintia Students Union – Shillong Circle has urged the government to disclose the names of the infected people to pave the way for effective contact tracing.
Union’s public secretary Tiphimi Rymbai, in a statement, said that disclosing the names will ensure that those who have come in their (COVID-19 patients) contact will be able isolate themselves and prevent any possibility of community transmission.
“This is a call for transparency in giving information,” the Union said.
With regard to the fiasco relating to the marriage party, the JSU suggested that the video footage and photographs from the wedding and other functions will aid in contact tracing.
Secondly, the union has urged the state government to confirm whether COVID-19 tests for armed personnel such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Army, has been made mandatory or not, and whether the quarantine protocol of 14 days is undertaken by such personnel when entering the state.
While reminding that the Union had earlier suggested the state government to mandatorily screen armed personnel before entering state, it said that the advice was not followed and sought a reason to it.
In this regard, the Union said that the government should cooperate with the public first, while adding, “Movement of personnel has to be allowed only after proper certification by state health authorities. We need answers and more so in action”.
