Meghalaya: Use of Masks & Hand Hygiene Compulsory in Public Spaces

Shillong, April 4, 2020:

Meghalaya Government has advised all the citizens to use face masks in public and follow hand hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing protocols against the coronavirus pandemic that has affected over 1 million people worldwide.

On Friday, the members of the Medical Expert Committee constituted by the Meghalaya Government had a discussion with the Chief Secretary about the usage of masks to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Chief Secretary informed that the members deliberated upon the WHO recommendations on the effectiveness of use of masks in preventing community spread.

The members emphasized that the masks will be effective if its followed along with hand hygiene and the maintenance of social distancing.

ALSO READ: Assam: Moran's Khowang Tea Garden Workers Made to Work Despite Lockdown

The Members also informed that the touching of the front of the masks should be avoided to prevent contamination. Now, the committee has decided to publicize this based on the advisory given by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.

The Public will be advised to stitch their own two-layered masks at home made of cotton. The masks should cover the mouth, nose and chin areas of the face.

Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce & Industries of Meghalaya has been tasked with producing double-layered Reusable cotton masks locally with the help of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

By April 10, 3 lakh masks will be tailored by the units under the department of Commerce & Industries.

Moreover orders have been placed to procure 10 lakh masks within a 10-day period from outside.

COVID-19 Cases in India

Meanwhile, the number of active COVID-19 cases stands at 2,650, while 183 people have either recovered or discharged. 68 deaths have been reported so far and one has migrated according to the Ministry of Health & Welfare.

As per the ministry's updated data on coronavirus cases, six fresh deaths were reported – three from Maharahtra, two from Delhi and one from Gujarat on Saturday.

Maharashtra has reported the most deaths (19) so far, followed by Gujarat (9), Telengana (7), Madhya Pradesh (6), Delhi (6), Punjab (5), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (3), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh (2) and Kerala (2). Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have reported a death each.

ALSO READ: 2-Year-Old Tripura Child Starves to Death amid COVID-19 Lockdown

The highest number of confirmed cases of the pandemic was reported from Maharashtra at 423 followed by Tamil Nadu with 411 infections. The number of cases in Delhi has gone up to 386, in Kerala to 295, in Rajasthan to 179 and in Uttar Pradesh to 174. In Andhra Pradesh, cases have increased to 161, while Telengana has registered 158 positive patients so far.

Karnataka has 128 cases. Madhya Pradesh has reported 104 cases so far, Gujarat 95, while Jammu and Kashmir has 75 positive patients so far. The number of cases has risen to 63 in West Bengal. Punjab has reported 53 cases of COVID-19 so far followed by Haryana with 49 cases.

Bihar has 29, Assam has 25, Chandigarh 18, Uttarakhand 16 and Ladakh has reported 14 cases so far. Ten cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Chhattisgarh has nine positive patients so far. Goa and Himachal Pradesh have have reported six coronavirus cases each. Odisha and Puducherry have five cases each.

Jhakhand and Manipur have reported two cases each while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradeh have reported a case each.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.