Faced with still rising numbers of Covid-19 cases and a worsening death toll, the state government today decided to extend the lockdown in East Khasi Hills for another week, that is until May 17.
The lockdown in the district was set to end on Monday morning but, with today’s figures of 375 new cases and 11 Covid-related deaths, the government was left with no choice but to extend the lockdown, though some loosening of restrictions will take place.
“Continuously for the last three to four days we have been getting more than 300 hundred cases. We were not able to reduce the number of active cases. It is so serious and so grim,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters here after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
He urged the citizens of the district to bear with the government and to be united in the fight against the virus.
The government decided to continue with a ‘weekend lockdown’ only in the other districts, despite worrying increases outside of EKH, such as South West Garo Hills (which has seen a caseload increase of 35 percent) and West Khasi Hills (37 percent).
Meanwhile, Tynsong informed that the remaining papers for the Class 12 board exams have been postponed indefinitely. The two examinations were scheduled for May 6 and 7 and later postponed to May 11 and 12.
There will be minor restrictions lifted in the upcoming week’s lockdown. Banks and post offices will be allowed to open but with limited staff. Home delivery services will be permitted. Construction work can also restart if the labourers reside at the site itself. Restaurants will be allowed to reopen but only for delivery; no in-house dining will be allowed.
On the other hand, the permitted number of attendees at wedding and funeral services has been cut down further to 15. For weddings, only family members are permitted to attend. Only those weddings that have already received permission can go ahead; no new permissions will be granted for this lockdown period.
Meanwhile, Director of Health Services, Dr Aman Warr, explained why the current lockdown has not brought down infection rates.
The medical expert said that because of the coronavirus’ long incubation time, the cases that are appearing today might be of people who were actually infected up to 10 days ago but whose symptoms are only showing up now.
“Imposing a lockdown does not mean that we will have a sudden decrease in cases,” Dr Warr said, as the effect is a delayed one but it will come if people respect the lockdown and Covid protocols.
