The Meghalaya cabinet on Tuesday cancelled all its earlier decisions related to partial relaxation of the lockdown.
The decision was taken after one doctor was tested positive for COVID-19 and the Centre extended the nationwide lockdown to May 3.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, after the cabinet meeting, said, “We are going back to the old protocols and based on the situation.”
“We will take a call as and when the essential commodities need to be provided and opening of shops selling the essential items,” Sangma said.
“More discussion will take place on the plans of action given the positive case that has come up,” he added.
Asked about updates on the treatment of the COVID-19 patient, Sangma said that the patient, in medical terms, is in ‘category c’ not on a ventilator.
There has been panic in Meghalaya after the doctor has been tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
“We are looking at the entire history of the case and there has been some data and information and some evidence that one of the relatives of the patient has a travel history to some of the badly affected country and the time frame during which the travel took place and the person’s entry into Shillong,” he said.
“In all likelihood, he is staying in the same house being the relative and it was very much within the 14-day quarantine period,” Sangma added.
“We cannot say with full evidence, but in this situation, in a most likely scenario, the story of travel history linked with the 14-day quarantine period within which the travel was made to Shillong looks like the reason why it could happen, but it could be for some other reasons which we are still investigating,” he said.
Sangma also clarified that the relative of the individual had registered with the government when he entered Shillong and the medical team had visited the concerned person and he did not show symptoms of any kind.
“In all likelihood, it is an asymptomatic case (people who carry the active virus in their body but never develop any symptoms),” he said.
The chief minister while stressing to adhere to quarantine as measures to stop the spread of the virus, it is important that home quarantine must be taken seriously.
“I urge everyone that it is important to stay safe, use mask at all times, and maintain personal hygiene and social distance and avoid touching face, eyes, and nose as much as possible,” Sangma said.
I appeal to the citizens we should not stigmatize anybody because the virus does not look at race, religion or boundaries,” he added.
“It can happen to anyone and it is every wrong to stigmatize and look at individuals and start blaming. This is not the time to do this and we must act responsibly as citizens,” he further said.
He also said that there are also situations and cases where people in different parts of Shillong started stigmatizing people working in hospitals.
“It is not their fault that they are working in hospitals they are putting themselves daily on the frontline to save lives and protect us. The society must support them and not stigmatize them,” he urged while seeking the support of all citizens.