Shillong, May 15: As cases of Covid continues to increase, the State Government on Saturday decided to combat the pandemic by increasing the level of awareness on prevention.

“We have decided to go for an aggressive awareness campaign throughout the state from next week,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said after a daily review meeting.

Tynsong informed that the Directorate of Information and Public Relations has been asked to organize awareness campaigns in different parts of the State.

Stating that behavioral change is the need of the hour, Tynsong said, “We need people to understand the gravity of the situation due to the spread of the coronavirus, which is so dangerous.”

According to him, the awareness campaigns will be in the form of publicity or short films which will have important advisories that citizens are required to follow strictly.  Urging the citizens not to take the situation for granted, the Dy CM said the unnecessary movement should be totally avoided.

“We have from day one also authorized the police to do the needful and told the district administration to take stern action against the violators,” he said.

Tynsong also asserted that the need of the hour is to let the citizens of the state take responsibility by staying at home.

“We understand that livelihoods are being affected but why do we have to insist and even impose regulations because now the situation is so dangerous and people cannot just ignore the advisories and regulations made by the government,” he stated.