SHILLONG, MAY 8: The state government has decided to further extend the total lockdown in East Khasi Hills district to May 17, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise sharply with no respite.
Decision to continue imposing weekend lockdown in the other 10 districts was also taken during the review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday.
“The total lockdown in East Khasi Hills district will be extended (from 5 am of May 10) till 5 am of May 17,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters.
Stating that the situation is very serious and grim, Tynsong said the state continues to get 300 plus cases everyday and “we were not able to reduce the number of active cases.”
“Therefore, I request all the citizens of the state to kindly take care of yourselves individually because this is the only safety where you can be safe, if you don’t do that further deterioration may take place,” he added.
He said weekend lockdown will also continue to be enforced in the other districts of the state from 10 pm of every Friday upto to 5 am of every Monday.
Inter-state movement of persons shall continue to be restricted but this will not apply for transit vehicles of Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. Inter-district movement of persons from and to East Khasi Hills will continue to be restricted.
He also informed that MBOSE examinations scheduled on May 11 & 12 in the state are postponed until further orders.
Asked, Tynsong said, “The situation is grim, it is not a joke. I am warning anytime if the situation cannot be controlled I am telling you we may have to go to any extreme steps again.”
Reacting to the concerns expressed on the sudden imposition of the total lockdown in the district, he said, “There is no way out, we need to do it, we can’t wait for tomorrow because if we do, we may lose precious lives.”
The deputy chief minister further announced that few restrictions have been lifted during the lockdown period.
He said banks and post offices are permitted to open with limited staff. All central and state government offices other than those exempted shall be closed.
The government has also permitted e-commerce and home delivery services for all goods, restaurants, cafes and food delivery services subject to regulation by the Deputy Commissioner.
Tynsong said that activities in the construction sites where the employees or labourers stay within the premises will be allowed.
“However, we will not allow any labourer or employee to move out of such premises or campuses. Necessary instruction will be issued to the employers,” he added.
He also reiterated that all essential commodities will be made available through shops in the localities.
“We encourage shops selling essential commodities to open during the lockdown period. Citizens are requested to restrict themselves within their respective localities in order to contain the further spread of COVID-19 cases in the state,” he added.
On the other hand, Tynsong said that the government has also decided to allow implementation of the MGNREGS and farming activities throughout the state subjected to strict adherence of protocols and SOPs.
By Our Reporter
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