Meghalaya government on Wednesday ruled out imposition of total lockdown despite steady spike of COVID-19 active cases in the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma held a review meeting with his ministerial colleagues and officials on June 10 in the light of new COVID-19 cases surfacing in the state.
Meghalaya has been registering a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases with arrival of returnees, mostly from ‘red zones’ elsewhere in the country with 15 COVID-19 cases since June 1.
Of the 30 active cases in the state, 14 are in East Khasi Hills district, five each in West Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and one North Garo Hills.
Meghalaya registered the first positive case on April 15 and the patient subsequently died two days after he got infected with the virus.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on June 10 said that no total lockdown would be imposed, but the lockdown is continuing in the state till June 30, with some relaxations.
“We have been trained in the past few months how to live and take care of ourselves, ever since the first lockdown was enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Now it is the responsibility of each one of us to take care and follow the laid down protocols,” the deputy chief minister told reporters on June 10.
Moreover, the deputy chief minister said that the people should understand that it is not the government that should force them to follow the protocols but it is the duty of every citizen to follow the protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.
“We have to also consider livelihood activities and at the same time the priority is to ensure safety of the citizens,” Tynsong said, while underscoring the need to balance between livelihood and taking care of one’s health.
Till June 10 morning, Meghalaya had a total of 44 positive cases including 30 active cases, 13 recovered, and one deceased.
