People’s hesitancy to vaccinate & delayed treatment are reasons for high positive death rate in Meghalaya

Shillong: Meghalaya on Thursday recorded 21 COVID-19 deaths, one of its highest single-day deaths, mounting the number of fatality figure to 1009, even as the State government said the was a “continuum” of the rising daily cases, indicating that it was going towards a possible
‘third wave’ of the ongoing pandemic.
They also reported 558 new cases of infection adding up to 4,539 active cases, even as 411 more patients recovered from the viral disease surged the number of recovered cases to 54,356 in the State, which has registered 59,904 confirmed cases so far.
Meanwhile, the State government has once again emphasized on the need for vaccination against COVID-19 as an effective means to contain the spread of the virus with cases on the surge in the State.
Principal Secretary Health, Sampath Kumar said people’s hesitancy to vaccinate and delayed treatment are one of the reasons for the high death rate in the state.
“The death rate in Meghalaya is higher largely because many are yet to be vaccinated and due to delayed treatment,” Kumar told UNI.
When asked if the surge in cases was the third wave that the state is staring, Kumar said probably it was. “This surge is maybe a continuum of the second to the third wave.”
He said the health department is making efforts to reach those villages that have “maximum” hesitancy towards the vaccine.
“We have already formed many Self Help Groups are trying to explain the benefits of the vaccine and why it should be taken. Unless, the vaccine is taken by the adults in the family the children remain vulnerable till the time vaccines for children are developed,” Kumar said.
Moreover, he urged people with symptoms of the infection should not delay in taking treatment.
He said they should not fear as quick diagnosis of the infection through tests could prove life-saving.
Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War said the COVID-19 related deaths recorded included 12 in East Khasi Hills district. two each in West Khasi Hills district, West Jaintia Hills district, and West Garo Hills district, and one each in South West Garo Hills district, South Garo Hills district and Ri-Bhoi district.
Of the new Covid-19 cases detected on Friday were 213 in East Khasi Hills district, 115 in West Jaintia Hills district, 85 in West Garo Hills district, 52 in Ri-Bhoi district, 35 in South West Khasi Hills district, 24 in West Khasi Hills district, 11 in East Garo Hills district, seven in South Garo Hills district, five in East Jaintia Hills district and four cases in South West Garo Hills district. , the health official informed.
The East Khasi Hills, including state capital Shillong, which recorded the largest number of new COVID-19 cases on Friday is the most pandemic-hit district with 1,426 active positive cases and 726 deaths due to the viral infection, followed by West Garo Hills district with 1,022 active cases and 51 deaths, Ri-Bhoi district with 638 active cases and 42 fatalities, West Jaintia Hills district with 436 active cases and 96 deaths, South West Khasi Hills district with 279 active cases and 10 deaths and West Khasi Hills district with 208 active cases and 25 deaths, while the rest of the five districts had less than 200 active cases each as per the latest official data released by the health department.
Till Friday, 8,01,108 persons have undergone test for COVID-19 across the State, of whom 7,41,204 were tested negative for the virus, as per data released by the National Health Mission, Meghalaya.
On the other hand, 31,601 heath care workers received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 and 21,503 were administered with the second dose, 97,145 front-line workers got the first jab and 32,156 took the second shot, 6,88,482 persons from among the general public were inoculated with the first dose and 95,792 were fully vaccinated with the second dose across the state as on date, as per official information.