Shillong, June 11: The rising number of COVID-19 cases in West Jaintia Hills district has Meghalaya government worried. Although a full lockdown for the district wasn’t announced on Friday, Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma said a “certain degree of strict lockdown must continue” in the district as its positivity rate is very high.
In Jowai today to take stock of the current Covid status in both West & East Jaiñtia Hills. Additional health infra and testing facilities are being worked on to aid the Covid management efforts in both the Districts.@drharshvardhan pic.twitter.com/1hjogCb0On
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 11, 2021
The district’s positivity rate is 33%, the highest in the state, currently. In comparison, East Khasi Hills positivity rate is 19%, despite reporting high number of cases.
The state’s overall positivity rate is 12.9%.
The Chief Minister said, “The Cabinet has recommended that certain degree of strict lockdown must continue for West Jaintia Hills as the positivity rate is above the roof right now with 33% positivity rate.”
He said the West Jaintia Hills positivity rate was three times more than state average, which is a cause of concern.
One of the main reasons for the entourage of the Chief Minister to come to Jowai on Friday was to review the overall preparedness of the two districts of Jaintia Hills, namely, East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills. He said measures are required to be placed, especially in West Jaintia Hills as they don’t want the numbers to be spiral out of hand.
He said the government is satisfied with the report of the health officials on the preparedness of the districts to tackle the rising cases.
Meanwhile, against the overall positivity rate of 12.9% of the State, East Jaintia Hills positivity rate is 9%, South West Garo Hills is 12%, East Garo Hills is 11%, Ri-Bhoi – 10%.
Rest of the districts’ positivity rate is below 9%.
Necessity of vaccination
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has once again appealed to the people of the State to come forward to take the COVID-19 vaccine which is being given free of cost.
He said the State currently has enough stocks of the vaccine and on Friday alone 8000 shots were administered as the second phase of inoculation for 18-44 age group began in Meghalaya.
He also informed that those who have taken both doses have clearly been protected as there have been no symptoms or adverse effects due to the vaccine in the state till date.
