Shillong,Jan 18: The state government has sought people’s support as Covid cases rose to 275 on Tuesday.
However, the deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said lockdown will be the last resort.
While two patients died, the number of recoveries is 162.
East Khasi Hills has 193 cases followed by West Garo Hills 35, Ri Bhoi 20, West Khasi Hills 9, West Jaintia Hills 6, South West Khasi Hills 4 and 3 each in East Jaintia Hills and South West Garo Hills and one each in East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills .
Tynsong said that the situation in the state is not good.
“Ultimately we leave it to the responsibility of each citizen of the state as from the government side, we cannot just do it alone,” he said.
On the allegation that the government has surrendered by leaving it to the people to fight against the pandemic, the deputy chief minister however said the question of giving up does not arise.
“Since you know the transmission rate of Covid-19 and Omicron is high, you need to understand that people also need to take responsibility because illness is attached to individuals only. If you feel you have a sign or are symptomatic, isolate and don’t mix around with anybody otherwise transmission will take place,” he said.
On Assam government’s decision to impose curfew on people who are not vaccinated, Tynsong said the state government is not going to do that but will aggressively carry out vaccination drives at the block and village level.
To a question whether there is any need for testing at Umling entry point, Tynsong maintained that health is a state subject and nobody can question the government’s decision to make testing for Covid mandatory.
“If there is no coronavirus we would not have done that. We have spent a lot of manpower and time over there not necessarily for money but we really wanted to make sure that people of the state and those coming into the state are safe and they don’t get infected but those who bring RT PCR test within 72 hours they are exempted from testing,” he said.
