The government has extended the lockdown for another week, that is until 5am on June 14.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said today that although cases are declining, the government is not letting its guard down.
“Though the decision (to extend the lockdown) was tough, we urge the citizens to cooperate and bring the cases under control,” the Chief Minister said.
He informed that approximately 4,000 active cases are in the 15-45 age group, which is 70-75 percent of the total active cases. Giving a breakup, Sangma informed that there are 2,119 active cases between the age of 15 and 29 and 1,781 in the 30-44 age group.
Sangma also informed that there are approximately 628 persons who are hospitalized, out of which 102 are in Category D which means that they are in ICU and are being administered high-flow oxygen, 227 are in Category C, 184 are in Category B and 115 in Category A.
The Chief Minister also informed that the State is expecting 66,000 vaccines, payments for which has been made, for the 18-44 age group and there are another 71,000 doses of vaccines for the 45-plus age group.
Sangma also said that although cases are declining, especially in East Khasi Hills, the positivity rate is still in double figures and therefore a cause of concern.
The Chief Minister also said that the virus is now spreading to other districts of the State like West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, Sangma said the Deputy Commissioners would take decisions in their respective districts on opening up the economy “on a need basis” based on the ground situation.
He further informed that the state government is working on a module for a possible third wave. In the manual the government would get to decide when to impose a lockdown or what sort of activities could be allowed.
Sangma said that it would also ensure that the health infrastructure is improved keeping in mind that the third wave could affect new age groups of people in the state as the virus has been constantly mutating.
Meanwhile, in East Khasi Hills, villages and areas outside Shillong agglomeration where there are no new positive cases or at least a very low number of cases, certain activities and shops will be allowed to operate not more than three times a week, including hardware stores and those dealing in raw materials for construction, stone and sandstone quarrying, shops dealing in electronic items, gas appliances and gas repairing, mobile phone shops and service outlets, mobile recharging shops, automobile showrooms, automobile repair shops, furniture workshops, fabrication units, florists and nurseries, stationery shops and others deemed necessary.
