Shillong: The Meghalaya Government will now allow citizens in the age group of 18-44 years to book vaccine slots on the spot, health officials said on Tuesday.
“On-the-spot vaccination for the 18-44 group will begin tentatively from June 11 in selected centres. Spot booking of slots will continue till the existing stock of vaccine lasts,” an official in the state health and family welfare department said following the announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Central Government would ensure free vaccination of all citizens across the various states.
“The state is set to receive 66,000 doses of vaccines against COVID-19 for the 18-44 group in the next few days. An advance payment has already been made for the doses,” the heath official informed.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya on Tuesday recorded nine deaths due to COVID-19 infection, taking the casualty toll to 678 and 379 fresh cases of infection taking the active case count up to 4924, even as 773 more recoveries from the viral disease surged the number of recovered cases to 33, 933 in the State, which has so far registered 39, 535 confirmed cases of Coronavirus infection.
Director Health Services (MI) Dr. Aman war said that the latest deaths due to COVID-19 complications included six in East Khasi Hills district two in West Khasi Hills district and one West Jaintia Hills district.
The fresh cases of infection included 149 in East Khasi Hills district, including state capital Shillong, where the number of active cases has declined to 1995 as on date.
While the West Garo Hills district had 618 active COVID-19 cases and the East Jaintia Hills district had 647 active cases, the rest of the eight districts in the State had less than 500 active cases each as per the latest official count.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo has instructed that no landlord will forcefully evict any tenant who is unable to pay the required rent immediately, but will give proper concession and time for payment, so as not to cause difficulties to people during “such a time”, in reference to the ongoing pandemic.
Employers of household help and domestic workers who are unable to come to work on account of the lock-down have been urged to continue with to support their workers and not demand that “they expose themselves unnecessarily, or deprive them of their wages”.
Laloo also encouraged the household help and domestic workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
