Shillong, June 4: Meghalaya Government has extended the lockdown in the entire State for another week i.e. from June 7 to June 14 in order to contain the number of COVID-19 cases and bring the current numbers down.
Speaking to reporters after the review meeting here on Friday, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Though the numbers are coming down, the positive rate still remains in the double digit, which is a matter of concern. Though we are seeing a trend that is showing some kind of relief, and indicating to some kind of improvement in the overall situation. We are nowhere close to letting our guards down or letting taking things easy.”
He said this decision is difficult for the people of the state, especially the residents of Shillong and East Khasi Hills, which has been under total lockdown for close to three weeks, but the health aspect is far more important.
“I know that lot of people will face difficulties and challenges but the health aspect is far more important to each and every one of us,” he said adding that atleast 104 people are fighting for their lives in different hospitals across the State has he is making this announcement.
Despite being a ‘very tough decision’ he urged and appealed to the people to cooperate and work together with the government so that they are able to bring things under complete control once and for all.
Additionally, he said the trends show that the novel corona virus is now shifting to to rural areas where large number of cases are being detected. He said very large number of cases are coming up from West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and some parts of South West Garo Hills also, which is a cause of concern for the government and a reason to impose lockdown in the entire state this coming week.
Things will ease in coming weeks
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said although the government has taken the ‘very tough decision’ to extend the lockdown, the situation seems to be improving for the state in its effort to flatten the COVID curve. If the trend continues for another week, the government is of the view to open-up the State a bit more.
“Things are improving and I’m positive that in the coming week after this one week is over, we should be able to see things eased down a bit more. Early to say, but looks like if we can control things in the next one week, if we all work together, if we are all committed, and we all simply bear the next one week, I’m sure that in the week coming after that we should be able to see things improving drastically,” he said.
He also added that the number of cases especially in high zones like the East Khasi Hills has come down by a signification number, and the positivity rate is also decline, which is a positive development.
Economic Activities
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma informed that the government has given the liberty to the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to open up activities on need-based basis, besides those are already allowed currently.
“In the next one week, we are allowing the Deputy Commissioners to open up economic activities on a need basis. If the Deputy Commissioners feel that certain sectors can be opened or need to be opened up, certain activities can and need to be opened up, which will not give a huge risk in terms of gathering, we are giving liberty to Deputy Commissioners to allow those need-based activities to be opened up even in the coming week apart from the current activities we have already opened-up in the current week,” the CM said.
The government has also allowed the SDOs and BDOs to recommend to the Deputy Commissioners to allow rural economic activities, where the livelihoods have been hit very hard, depending on the prevalence of virus.
“We realise that though the numbers are high, there are many areas which don’t have very high numbers, there are areas which can have certain economic activities but no gatherings,” he said adding that these economic activities maybe very important for the livelihood of the people but may not contribute to the spread of the virus.
