Shillong, Dec 22: The state government on Thursday appealed to the citizens to start wearing masks as a precautionary step to prevent outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

This came after the Centre had raised an alert by directing all states and UTs to sequence all positive case samples on a daily basis following the rise in the Covid-19 cases in several countries including China.

After reviewing the situation, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters that the government is continuously monitoring the situation. “During this festive season, the only advice that is there is that wherever possible, people should wear masks,” he said.

Stating that the situation is under control and there is nothing to panic, he said, “There is nothing alarming as of now but obviously as a government it is our duty to not take things for granted. Therefore, as a society and as a government and as individuals we should be careful.”

He said the Covid meeting was a procedural meeting in terms of the entire situation that is being witnessed globally. “The Prime Minister himself is also taking a meeting as we speak and this is just a precautionary meeting because we will all be leaving for Christmas break and, hence, I thought it appropriate given the current situation that is happening in the rest of the world,” he added.

According to him, the positive rate in term Covid is very minimal in the state at just 0.1 or 0.2 percent.