In view of the upcoming visit of President Droupadi Murmu to Meghalaya, the authorities have ordered for maintenance of Covid-19 protocols for all officials including drivers and security staff during the visit.
Murmu will inaugurate the Meghalaya Games 2024 at Tura on January 15. She would lay the foundation stone for the Shillong Ropeway project on January 16.
The scare caused by the new Covid variant JN.1 which is spreading in India has sent authorities into a tizzy.
The symptoms of the variant are fever, persistent cough, runny nose, sore throat, body ache and fatigue.
According to sources, Covid-19 guidelines have been issued for the visit of the President to the State in order to ensure that she was safe and healthy.
Persons having fever, persistent cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and cold problem or any other influenza like symptoms will not be put on duty during the President’s visit.
According to sources, face masks are mandatory for all those attending the President’s programme in Shillong and Tura. It was also directed that a minimum number of dignitaries will be present for the reception and seeing off and no gifts, flowers, mementos, shawls etc will be presented at any venue.
Sources also said that all dignitaries and officials meeting the President and the staff deployed would be tested for the RT-PCR test for Covid-19 in the last 72 hour prior to the event and the report would be available before the arrival of the President.
Further, no group photograph will be allowed unless cleared by the President’s Secretariat. There will be proper ventilation at the function venue.
Sources said that as per the guidelines, the function venues and guest rooms to be visited by the President have to be sanitised with sodium hypochlorite solution for floor and room and Sterigen C for wooden and metallic surface and furniture.
Vehicles to be used by the President and the entourage, Green Room for the President, chairs on the dais, rostrum, microphone, guest rooms and toilets will also be sanitised with special liquid.
Instead of hand towels, good quality disposable tissue papers will be used in rest rooms.
One spare N-95 mask will be placed in all guest rooms for the entourage and adequate sanitisers will be placed at all venues.
N-95 masks and hand gloves will be used by drivers, security staff, attendants, stewards and anyone else required to go in close proximity to the President.
Utensils, tray, table, cutlery and crockery items especially which are supposed to be used by the VVIP would be sanitised.
