Meghalaya NGO urges government to ease curfew restrictions amid COVID crisis

Most of the general public, especially those hailing from rural areas, are now experiencing a difficult situation. 
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SHILLONG: 

The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), on Monday, appealed to the district administration of West and East Jaintia Hills to ease the COVID-19 curfew restrictions imposed in the two districts of Meghalaya.

JSU president Jersom Shylla and general secretary Treiborlang R Suchen, in a letter submitted to the deputy commissioners of the two districts, requested the authorities to ease the ongoing curfew.

“Most of the general public, especially those hailing from rural areas, are now experiencing a difficult situation. We feel that partial removal of the curfew should be seriously considered,” the JSU said.

“The government had earlier announced, through the deputy CM, that it wouldn’t resort to lockdown, except for the declaration of containment zones in areas where COVID infection is detected. However, there is a total curfew now,” it added.

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There are 266 active cases and six deaths reported in East Jaintia Hills and 568 active cases and 31 deaths in West Jaintia Hills up to date.

The union suggested that the authorities must also ramp up random testing in villages and mark them as "COVID-free" or "safe from COVID-19" if no active cases are being reported.

The union stressed on the challenges that the villagers face and suggested that activities such as farming, construction, etc., within the village or near, must be allowed to sustain their livelihood, as the villagers are mostly daily wage earners.

Meanwhile, the union also urged the people to take the second wave of the pandemic seriously and to follow the health department protocols and advisories, to contain the spread of the virus.

(Edited by Marvin Kharsohnoh)

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