SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN/MAWKYRWAT/TURA, May 4: The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills has declared Wahshnong hamlet and Nongshiliang hamlet of Jongksha village under Mawkynrew C&RD Block as containment zone.
The DC necessitated this order on receipt of report from the Block Development Officer, Mawkynrew, and the Medical Officer in charge of Jongksha PHC, which stated that a COVID-19 positive person was found mingling around the two hamlets in Jongksha village and had come in contact with a large number of people without taking any precaution despite being advised to isolate as per the government protocols.
Movement to and fro the containment area has been prohibited and all shops and establishments will remain closed during containment period, the order said.
The Block Development Officer of Mawkynrew C&D Block has been authorised to supervise and monitor strict compliance of the order.
Vax for media persons
COVID-19 vaccination for media persons will be conducted by the office of the District Medical & Health Officer, East Khasi Hills, at the Directorate of Information and Public Relations Complex, Lachumiere, Shillong, from 10 am to 5 pm on Wednesday, a statement issued here said.
All media persons are requested to come forward for the jab, it added.
Traders, shopkeepers in priority group for vax
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Pynursla Civil Sub-Division, in an order, has designated shopkeepers and traders as priority group for vaccination. The circular also states that they should get themselves vaccinated and display their vaccination certificates at their shops.
All schools, collegesin WKH closed
In view of the surging COVID-9 cases in West Khasi Hills, District School Education Officer of West Khasi Hills, acting on the directive of the Deputy Commissioner, has decided to close down all schools and colleges as well as and vocational institutes in the district from May 5 till 23.
Physical classes suspended in SWKH
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills Caramai Kharkongor, on Tuesday, directed all secondary and higher secondary schools as well as colleges in the district to discontinue normal physical classes from May 5 until further orders so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The DC, however, said that online classes should continue and consultation/ counselling may be conducted in a staggered manner.
Revision of seating capacity
The Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills, in another order, has reduced the seating capacity in both commercial and private vehicles within the district.
According to the order, the seating capacity for all five-seat vehicles is 3+1, seven and 7+ seaters is 5+1, local taxies (Regional) is 3+1, three-wheelers (auto rickshaw) is 2+1 and the capacity for the bus is has been reduced to 50 per cent.
“All occupants/travellers are directed to adhere strictly to SOPs and advisories issued by the Government of Meghalaya. Further, both commercial and private vehicles picking up returnee/person from containment area should produce RT-CPR certificate /COVID vaccine certificate of the occupant,” the DC said in the order.
Review of essential commodities’ stock
The West Khasi Hills district administration along with the Supply Branch, Nongstoin, on Tuesday held a meeting with the wholesalers and retailers of essential commodities including the members of the Butchers’ Association on the availability of foodstuff in the district.
Aiming to protect consumers against hardships such as shortfall, hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities, wholesalers and retailers have been directed to display the prices of the commodities at the entrance of their shops and inform the district administration (Supply Branch) of any hike in the rates.
NESFAS takes active steps
In order to spread awareness against COVID-19 and encourage local communities to consider the COVID-19 vaccination, the North East Slow Food & Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) has come up with initiatives such as awareness and training programmes to reach out to different communities within Meghalaya as well as Nagaland.
NESFAS, in collaboration with the Society for Urban and Rural Empowerment (Jowai), Shillong Service Centre (SSC) Shillong Archdiocese and North East Network (NEN) Nagaland is taking the initiative to reach out to 130 partner communities in the rural areas and their neighboring villages so that local communities are not left behind during this pandemic.
As part of the preparedness strategy, online trainings are being conducted for community volunteers and frontline workers like the ASHAs, AWWs, COVID-19 committee, to initiate medical and home SOPs at the village level, vaccination drive, immunity-boosting through diets and nutrition, basic life-saving skills etc.
In collaboration with local PHCs and doctors, the communities are also setting up COVID-19 centres/quarantine in their villages to stay ahead of the worst situation.
Former Garo Baptist Convention general secretary dies in Tura
Former general secretary of the Garo Baptist Convention- A’chik Baptist Dalgipa Krima, Reverend Krickwin C Marak, who has been ailing for a long time passed away in Tura while en route to hospital on Tuesday afternoon. He was tested positive for Covid-19 making him the first casualty from the disease in the district, this year. He was 71.
His demise has shocked the church community of Garo Hills, particularly Tura, where he served for many years as the general secretary of the ABDK and also the Harding Theological College. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
“Late Reverend had been comorbid and suffered from other ailments. His condition became serious and was rushed to Tura civil hospital but passed away enroute. He tested positive for covid and is the first casualty this year in the district,” informed Ram Singh, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills.
Fondly called “Mama” by many of the youths who were his students, Late Rev. Krickwin travelled across the country spreading the good word of the holy Bible through the Baptist Church.
Born in Demdema, near Phulbari on November 27,1950, he studied in Shillong and later joined the Garo Baptist Church.
When a super cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in the late 1980s, Reverend Krickwin joined the EFFICOR group to help with relief works at Matchipatnam in Andhra for three long months.
From there he went on to work as a missionary of the CBCNEI in Karbi Anglong and later spent a year in London undergoing missionary studies.
He was a lecturer at UBS in Pune before becoming the general secretary of the ABDK in Tura.
“Life is the greatest gift that God has given us. Death is only a bridge towards eternal life with God,” mentioned a condolence by Reverend Teseng Momin, who knew late Rev. Krickwin Marak for many years.
