Though an advisory on inter-state movement has been issued by the Centre not to restrict it, the Meghalaya government, however, made it clear that all entry points would be closed down for one week in the first week of every month.

The Meghalaya government has decided to shut down all entry points for seven days in the first week of every month starting from September till November in view of the spurt of COVID19 cases in the state for easing out the pressure on frontline health workers who have to run and man the entry points 24 hours.

Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla told the states and union territories that there should be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods during the ongoing unlocking process.

Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong, however, said closure of all entry points is necessitated to give a much-needed break to frontline workers posted at all entry points across the state but certain essential inter-state transits will not come under the purview of the shutdown of entry points.

“Humanly speaking, we need to understand that it is difficult for anybody to continue working without any break. Therefore, the government has decided that the decision to close the entry points will continue excluding transit movement,” Tynsong said.

Tynsong said during the closure of the entry points, the areas where frontline workers are posted, will be fully disinfected.

The entry points are Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district, Ratacherra in East Jaiñtia Hills district, Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills district, Mirjumla in South West GaroHills district, Tikrikilla and Hallidayganj in West Garo Hills districts.

In the last six months, 30,470 citizens of the state have returned to the state from all across the country.

Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister urged all local authorities, who are imposing their own restrictions in terms of inter-district movement, to refrain from doing so and respect the notifications issued by the state government.

There are village authorities that asked a person to quarantine if he/she has visited other districts or the state capital Shillong.