SHILLONG: Meghalaya is looking to reopen educational institutions after mid-August, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said.
"About 50 percent of students eligible to avail COVID-19 vaccination have taken the vaccine. This is expected to increase further by mid-August," he said.
"When everything has already started, and even the markets are opening, then why not the schools? This is my personal opinion, but (the decision) will have to be collectively taken with the Health Department," he added.
He also urged the people to get themselves vaccinated to provide a safe environment for the students.
"I am very happy that every day about 10,000 people in the state are getting vaccinated," the minister said.
"So, I take this opportunity to urge the parents, and friends all over the state to let us give education to our children by vaccinating ourselves so that our society is more resistant to this coronavirus," he said.
Informing media persons after a review meeting, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Health & Family Welfare, Prestone Tynsong said that in the first wave of the pandemic one infected person spread the virus to three others while in the second wave, an infected person can spread the disease to six others. "It (delta) is very dangerous. That's why till date, the cases are still increasing because many infected persons are thinking that the first and the second waves are the same.''
Stating that the 'Delta' variant is infectious, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the government has tried its best to control the pandemic in the State, however adding, ''But, the government alone cannot manage it. We need the cooperation of each and every citizen so that strictly follow the COVID-19 protocols."
Tynsong further stated that the citizens should understand that the virus spreads faster. In this regard, he called upon the stakeholders like the durbars shnongs and the COVID-management committees to concentrate in their respective areas to curb the spread of the virus.
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