Shillong, Jan 7: Meghalaya government on Friday decided to increase testing for COVID-19 as a way to detected the silent carriers and contain them to prevent an outbreak of the virus as happened during the second wave. Also, the administration of third dose of vaccine or the booster shot to 60 years and above age group will be rolled out from January 10, 2022.
Further, although the state detected 64 new COVID-19 cases of Friday, none were of Omicron variant.
State to increase testing
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Friday informed that in order to prevent spread of the Omicron variant, the government has decided to increase the testing of people, especially those who are symptomatic. “We have issued necessary protocols that such people need to go for testing willingly, not necessarily the health worker has to go and force them to do the testing. People having mild symptoms are requested to get themselves tested for COVID-19,” he said.
“If they are found to be positive after testing, patients who are symptomatic are directed to strictly go for home isolation for seven days while those who are asymptomatic, they need to complete five days home isolation. Their health condition will accordingly be monitored by the health workers,” he added.
According to him, this protocol is based on the advisories issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).
3rd dose of vaccine
The deputy chief minister also announced the government’s decision to roll out the vaccination drive for administering the precaution (or booster) dose to people who are 60 years and above from January 10.
This is in line with the direction issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on Thursday to all states and union territories pertaining to the need to administer the precaution dose to all health care workers (HCWs), front line workers (FLWs) and 60+ population.
“Enough vaccines have reached the state and now the health department is working out to start the vaccination drive for the booster dose by next week,” Tynsong said.
“First, we will start giving the booster dose for those who are 60 years and above and our second target would be the health workers and the frontliners,” he added.
Need for vaccination
He also urged all eligible citizens of the state from 15 years and above to get vaccinated at the earliest possible. The Dy CM said, “I would request once again to all citizens of the state to take this opportunity to get yourselves vaccinated as the government had already created vaccination centres everywhere even upto the village level.”
“People may raise questions as to why they should go for vaccination since they will still get infected by the virus but let me tell you the severity as of today is very less and hospitalization rate is very less. This is because those who have already vaccinated though they get infected or get positive they don’t need hospitalization (meaning) within seven days time or five days time they will recover by themselves because of the vaccination,” he said.
Status of Omicron cases
He also mentioned that the health condition of the single active case of Omicron at Laitumkhrah is improving. Of four Omicron cases reported, three have already recovered.
These include two from Saiden village in Ri Bhoi district and one from Happy Valley.
He further informed that producing a negative RT-PCR report within 72 hours is mandatory for all people irrespective of vaccinated or not vaccinated at all entry points to the state.
