Meghalaya seals all entry points for one week

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 23, 2020

The temporary closure of various entry points to the state has started on Thursday midnight and will continue till July 31.

The entry points are Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district, Ratacherra in East Jaintia Hills, Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills and Tikrikilla, Mirjumla and Hallidayganj in West Garo Hills district.

The state government had earlier maintained that the decision was taken to unburden health and frontline workers and district administration engaged in intensive surveillance for the past 4 months.

It said that only emergency, medical services, essential commodities and transit movement of Assam vehicles will be allowed.

Meanwhile, the district administration of Ri Bhoi has decided to put in place necessary arrangements for implementing the order to close the entry point from July 23 to July 31.  

The meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah on Thursday has directed that both entry and exit points are to be manned from 10 am to 5 pm along with a medical team adding health screening will be done for stray travellers during the period.

“People arriving between 5 pm to 10 am at entry point will have to wait until arrival of screening team at 10 am,” the DC said adding “The SP will take over from 5 pm to 10 am for law and order and no individuals will be allowed to enter during this time except for goods, essential services and medical emergencies.”

The meeting also decided that in respect of Assam vehicles, inter-district movement of individuals has been barred from July 22 until further orders.

The DC said ambulance proceeding to NEIGRIHMS will be allowed on condition that they are referred by respective state government, they should have a COVID free certificate and patients, two attendants only apart from the driver.