Shillong, April 04: The Government of Meghalaya advices all citizens to use masks in public places and follow hand hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing protocol as advise earlier.
After the Government has constitutes the Medical Expert Committee (MEC) on matters relating to COVID-19 has a discussion with the Chief Secretary on the use of masks as a preventive mechanism to fight COVID-19 Pandemic.
The MEC deliberate upon the WHO recommendation on the effectiveness of use of mask in preventing community spread. In the discussion the members emphasised that the mask can be effective only if it is follow with hand hygiene by using hand sanitizers, soap and social distancing and touching the front end of the mask should be avoided to prevent any contamination.
The Committee also advices the general public they can stitch their own two layers mask at home made of cotton. It is to be ensure that the mask cover nose, mouth and chin area of the face. The manual for stitching and effective usage is available on www.psa.gov.in and the ministry of health and family welfare website.
To ensure that mask is available to the public the government of Meghalaya has entrusted to the department of commerce and Industries to produces double layered reusable masks locally with the help of SHGs and NGOs.
All the tailoring unit in the state have been asked to produces 3 lakh masks by 10th April 2020 and will continued to produce to meet the needs of the state. Order have been place to procure 10 lakh masks within a ten day period from outside the state to ensure availability to all.
