STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: While several States in the country have been affected by the shortage of oxygen cylinders, Meghalaya has no dearth of it till date even as the authorities continue to exhort the public to adhere the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) to contain the virus. The number of COVID cases has touched three figures and the surge is evident from the 1,200 cases detected in the last few days.
As the worst infected States clamour for oxygen cylinders, Meghalaya Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare P Sampath Kumar told The Sentinel on Friday, "Presently, we have 600 COVID beds and the oxygen cylinders are enough to cater to any COVID patients."
Disclosing that 70 beds are already being occupied in these COVID centres, the Principal Secretary made it clear that the public needed to realize the spike of the cases in the State in the past few days.
"Let us follow the protocols with the feeling that prevention is better than cure," stated Kumar while cautioning that if the surge continues we will have similar situations like the worst hit States of the country.
Reiterating about the three pronged measures adopted by the State, right from containment measures, self quarantine, behavior changes, the Principal Secretary cautioned that stringent measures will be taken if the public doesn't adhere to the protocols. On Friday, alone, 142 cases were reported, prompting the health officials to go for a fresh assessment.
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