Meghalaya: District COVID committee meeting held in Tura

TURA

A district covid committee meeting was held at the District Auditorium in Tura on Saturday to address issues concerning COVID management.

Tura Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Agatha Sangma, who attended the meeting, stated that with the onset of the festive season, people would have to be extra careful and follow necessary precautions.

“Another area of concern is for school children since schools would be re-opening soon and children are difficult to control with matters regarding COVID-19 protocols,” she said.

Sangma informed that heads of all institutions have been directed to follow government protocols.

“Considering that people seem fed up with the situation, public representatives and officials must set an example by following these protocols because the disease may seem normal like common flu, but it has the huge potential to affect the lives of people,” she said.

Meanwhile, West Garo Hills (WGH) Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh said that given the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, there is a need to hold the meeting with the officials and members of local development committees to discuss matters relating to COVID Management.

“Immediate quarantine measures were taken by declaring those areas comprising Cherangre, Dobasipara and Chitoktak as containment zones for 14 days as per the instruction of the Central Government,” Singh said.

The DC also advised everyone with breathing issues to come forward immediately and avail medical treatment.

He said that co-morbid patients are more vulnerable to the disease and advised all citizens to take care of their food habits and lifestyle.

Besides this, he urged everyone to wear masks, follow protocols and avoid unnecessarily large gatherings.

“Till date, Rs. 6 lakh was realised for compounding in connection with COVID-19 violations in the district which signifies that people are not following the rules properly,” WGH Superintendent of Police M.G.R Kumar said.

“People wear masks only when they see them (police personnel), and it is the same case with wearing of helmets,” he added.

Meanwhile, District Maternal and Child Health Officer Ivonne M Sangma presented a detailed status report of COVID-19 patients in the district from May.

“Many tests were conducted earlier, but less positive cases were detected. At present, the positive cases are increasing at an alarming rate, and the positivity rate has increased to 6.48 per cent in November,” Sangma said.

“People between the age group of 21 to 40 years are the most affected as they belong to the active mobile users which are being infected and somehow carrying on the disease to the elderly population who are at high risk. For this reason, COVID protocols are necessary,” she added.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)