Shillong, Dec 11: With cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 emerging in a few states in the country, Health Minister James Sangma has stressed the importance of administering vaccines in tackling the pandemic, which according to him, will help in state’s preparedness to address the new strain.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sangma said the health department is committed to carry out vaccination drive with a renewed vigour to ensure increase in the vaccine cover not just for single doses but for both the doses.
He asserted that the state is fully prepared to fight the new strain.
“We hope that Omicron will not have that kind of an impact in Meghalaya but we are preparing for any kind of scenario that may emerge,” the health minister said.
Regarding the measures taken against Covid-19 pandemic, the health minister said, “We are being very vigilant about Omicron and the possibility of it coming to the state of Meghalaya and we are taking precautions and all protocols are being enforced.”
He added that the department is also monitoring the entry points so that any kind of spread from visitors coming into the state can be avoided.
Closure of entry points
Regarding the closure of entry points, the health minister said it is too early to comment on that.
“Depending on the situation as it unfolds, we as a government will take decisions on that,” he said.
On the status of prefab structures for setting up of Covid-19 hospitals in the state, the health minister said that most of them are ready and ‘those which are not, the department is expediting for their completion’.
