Shillong: Meghalaya on Tuesday recorded seven more deaths due to COVID-19 complications increased the fatality figure to 750 and 450 new cases of infection added up to 4430 active positive cases, while 542 new recoveries from the viral disease surged the number of recovered cases to 37, 579 with the state having registered 42, 759 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far.
On the other hand, the East Khasi Hills district administration has issued a stricture that shops without staff vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be permitted to open from June 24 onwards.
All the seven deaths due to COVID-19 recorded on Tuesday were in the East Khasi Hills district, which, with 1607 active cases and 580 deaths is the most affected district, which includes state capital Shillong.
The fresh cases of COVID-19 infection detected today were 151 in East Khasi Hills district, 74 in West Garo Hills district, 69 in West Jaintia Hills district, 41 in South West Garo Hills district, 26 in North Garo Hills district, 22 in Ri-Bhoi district, 21 in East Garo Hills district, 17 in South Garo Hills didtrict, 14 in West Khasi Hills district, 12 in South West Khasi Hills district and three in East Jaintia Hills district.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo, who is also Chairperson of District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and Chairperson, District Task Force COVID-19, has passed an order that all shops and establishments are required to indicate the vaccination status of their staff at a prominent place in the shop premises.
“Any shop which has not completed vaccination of its staff will not be permitted to open from June 24, 2021 onwards,” the Deputy Commissioner ordered.
Laloo has also directed the District Transport Officer to work out a mechanism for regulation of public transport for staggered operation from next week depending on the situation.
“All drivers of commercial vehicles, including local taxi, tourist taxi and buses are required to be vaccinated (at least 1st dose) before they are permitted to resume operation,” the order issued by the DC on June 14 read.
In an earlier order, chief secretary MS Rao had advised all employees of 45 years of age and above working in the Meghalaya Secretariat and other offices, like Directorates, offices of chief engineers, state government corporations and societies to get themselves vaccinated, to ensure the health and safety of all and “in the interest of public health, so as to effectively contain the spread of COVID-19”.
“It is further directed that all those who have got themselves vaccinated will be eligible for special leave against COVID-19 infection, which will however not be available to those who have not been vaccinated,” the official order had laid down.
As per latest data released by the State health and family welfare department on Tuesday, 30, 303 healthcare workers received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 and 19, 669 received the second dose, 95, 030 front-line workers got the first jab and 26, 658 received the second shot, while 31, 6696 persons from among the general public were inoculated with the first dose and 28, 399 citizens were fully vaccinated across the state.
