Mawkyrwat MLA and cabinet minister, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar, said today that South West Khasi Hills is bearing the brunt of the second wave of Covid-19, with numerous households and entire villages under containment to curb the spread of the virus.
SWKH was the least affected of Meghalaya’s 11 districts during the first wave but has seen an increase of 376 cases since April 1, which is an increase of a massive 660 percent.
Numerous households in Mawlangwir, Mawten, Nonglang, Mawkyrwat and Jashiar are under containment, with 100 in Mawlangwir alone.
He said that one of the reasons for the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the state is because the people let their guard down and took things for granted.
“It seems that most of the people who tested positive for the coronavirus are those who paid no attention to Covid protocols, especially in maintaining physical distance,” he told Highland Post.
He also informed that all the existing Corona Care Centres, including the one set up by the government in the district, are functional.
Meanwhile, Tongkhar informed that it was he who implored the government to begin vaccination for the 18-44-year-olds and he is pleased that take up in this age group has outperformed the 45-plus.
To allow for greater registration for vaccination, he suggested that the process can be done over the phone rather than insisting on online bookings.
