With no let-up in the severity of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in East Khasi Hills, the state government today took the decision to impose a so-called total lockdown on the district from Wednesday 8pm. While Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the lockdown will run until 5am on May 31, an order from the Chief Secretary said it would run “until further orders”.
Meghalaya saw a record number of 906 new coronavirus cases reported today, with 574 being in EKH.
Exemptions continue to apply for health services (including vaccination of the public), pharmacies, movement of essential goods, persons travelling on essential government duty and the media, but restrictions have also been tightened.
All banks other than the State Bank of India Main Branch and Laitumkhrah branch will be closed. These two branches will only function with limited staff.
All post offices will be closed.
The Home (Political) Department has today listed certain central and state government offices that can function with limited staff. Of the central government offices, only the Food Corporation of India, Doordarshan Kendra, All India Radio, Indian Meteorological Department, BSNL and Shillong Cantonment Board can open their offices but attendance is limited to 30 percent.
Home delivery services will be limited to food, food products, dry rations, meat, vegetables and toiletries, subject to regulation by the Deputy Commissioner.
Funeral gatherings will be limited to only 10 people (down from 15), subject to permission from the DC.
Inter-district travel to and from EKH will continue to be restricted.
The order also said that the DC will “make suitable arrangements for the availability of essential commodities” in all neighbourhoods. This probably means that locality shops will be allowed to open, subject to restrictions.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that as far as the other districts are concerned, the figures there are still manageable but the respective DCs have been authorised to take appropriate decisions wherever necessary.
The government also clarified that those who perform the last rites of a Covid-19 victim need not isolate unless there are positive cases among the funeral attendees.
He said that strict protocols have been formulated and even PPEs have been provided to those family members who have a Covid death.
The Deputy Chief Minister also informed that the government has asked the Health Department to issue a detailed plan on how to set up corona isolation centres at the community level.
“We would also fervently urge all the concerned villages and all other stakeholders to join and share responsibility with the government in having such isolation centres,” Tynsong said.
