Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday informed that a 46-year-old man, who had tested Covid-19 positive died in West Garo Hills District.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said that the patient had reported his case very late to the hospital
“Whether or not this one case was a case of death due to Covid directly or was it because of some other comorbidity status of the patient will be ascertain at the earliest,” she said
The minister requested people to reach out to the nearest facility if they feel that their symptoms are way beyond their redressal as early detection and redressal of the problem is very important.
Lyngdoh also informed that the death audit committee is already in place. “We will ensure that we will send all details to the audit committee to ensure whether or not it was a direct Covid related death.”
The minister said the government do not want to panic the public. She said in the event of this one case, the government would like to take all necessary precautions to prevent spread of the disease.
She said the state has a total of 17 active Covid cases of which 10 are in West Garo Hills, 5 in East Khasi Hills and 2 in West Jaintia Hills.
According to her, Covid cases are well under control.
Lyngdoh said that there has been no sign that this would take a pandemic situation again.
She said the health department has requested for immediate implementation of all precautionary measures. “We request the public at large to kindly adhere to Covid practices so that we may be able to contain the situation and ensure that it does not become a problem. Please wear masks in crowded places, cough with etiquettes, wash your hands, use sanitizers.
People with symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste, smell, breathlessness or other respiratory symptoms should immediately reach out to the first testing centres.Testing centres are made available at all block levels, all tertiary care centres will have all these facilities.”
Lyngdoh informed that a meeting will be chaired by the chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday next, to take a call on the issue of vaccines.
“Now, the policy on vaccines will be again taken up on Monday when chief minister will also be available to advise us accordingly, we will then give further information as to what will be the stand of this government on the vaccines as the Government of India had already indicated it is not going to provide any vaccines and that vaccines will have to be procured by the state.”
When asked, the minister said, “Covid vaccine is a voluntary decision taken by the citizens. We cannot push or force doses on citizens until and unless they so wish to. So we leave it to the public to decide that is why we are yet to take a call as to what will be the formula that the government would propose. We will be sitting with the chief minister on Monday and we will have a better detail for you at that point of time.”