Shillong, June 4: About 70% of the active Covid-19 cases in the state are in the age group of 15-45 years.
Of the 6,110 active cases in the state, 2,119 are between 15-29 years of age and 1,781 are between 30-44, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Friday.
There are approximately 628 people who are in hospitals, of whom 102 are in D category, which means they are in ICU or under high oxygen flow, 227 in Category C, 115 in Category A and 184 in Category B.
East Khasi Hills, including the state capital, is the worst-affected district with 2,610 active cases as on Friday.
The state recorded 18 deaths and 584 fresh cases of Covid-19 on Friday.
Of the 18 deaths, nine were recorded in East Khasi Hills, four in West Jaintia Hills, two in West Garo Hills and one each in Ri Bhoi, West Khasi Hills and South West Garo Hills.
East Khasi Hills remained on the top with the highest number of day’s Covid-19 positive cases at 240 followed by West Jaintia Hills at 111, West Garo Hills at 55 and Ri Bhoi at 43.
The number of recoveries on Friday was over 800.
Sangma said Meghalaya is expecting to get another 66,000 doses of vaccines for the 18-45 age group and close to 71,000 doses for the 45 years and above in the next five-six days.
“We have already made the payments and those will also be rolled out in a systematic manner,” he added.
He admitted that there was a shortage of vaccine doses in the state that is hindering inoculation as per requirement.
According to him, vaccination has helped in containing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic to a great extent.
On the Congress’ suggestion for a universal vaccination, the chief minister pointed out that the vaccination policy is decided by the Centre.
Sangma said a lot of the nations are not going for universal vaccination as such but are going for 12 to 18 years.
“Therefore, I am sure time will come when government of india also will take up that policy but till then obviously we will have to go with the direction of the Government of India and it is a very positive suggestion and we are obviously aware of it and I am sure Government of India at an appropriate time take the decision also,” the chief minister said.
“There is a shortage so those factors also come in. We are hopeful that we at least finish the 18 to 45 category which is about 15 lakh people in our state and that is really the target that is keeping in front of us and yes, if the Government of India allows, supply is there then definitely a universal programme would be something that we will be happy to do,” he added.
The Cabinet has also reviewed the installation of the oxygen plants that are coming up in different district hospitals.
“We are very satisfied with the way the work is going forward – in the next few days we will see three-four plants completed,” Sangma said while informing that the cryogenic oxygen plants at Umsawli and Jengjal will also come up in the next two to three weeks.
