Meghalaya govt announces new restrictions amidst surge in COVID cases

SHILLONG: 

The Meghalaya government on Monday announced a set of restrictions on schools, public gatherings, eateries and tourism as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters in Shillong after a review meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “There has to be a balance between economy and safety and security of the people. We are not in favour of a complete lockdown so, we have started the restrictions.”

The restrictions include:

1. Restrictions on tourists coming from outside the state from April 23. This will be applicable for the next 14 days post-April 23. However, local tourism will continue. 
2. Government and Private offices will function at 50 per cent capacity; work from home option is encouraged; However, banks, post offices and central offices will function with full capacity.
3. Shops and commercial agencies will continue to function as normal but, they are expected to follow protocols otherwise closure notices would be issued to the respective shops.
4. Schools in Shillong will remain shut for 14 days starting April 20. But Class X and XII board exams will continue as scheduled. This applies only to Shillong and not the rest of the state, as almost 80 per cent of the cases are detected in the city. 
5. Restaurants, eateries and hotels can function with 50 per cent capacity and, this would be strictly monitored, although takeaways are encouraged.
6. Public gatherings will be restricted in the next 14 days in Shillong, with exceptions for weddings, funerals and social gatherings, for which prior permission from the DC is necessary.
7. The timeframe for RT-PCR tests will be reduced from 72 to 48 hours.

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