Following concerns over the outbreak of COVID-19 virus, the Meghalaya government has decided to scale down the Meghalayan Age Festival to a conference with participation of limited invitees.
Announcing this to reporters here on Friday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the state government was fully cognizant of the situation and public advisory released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare and decided not to go ahead with the festival.
He said that the festival was planned six months back, but there was no way but to cancel it.
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The conference will be held at the same venue at Winfield, Thadlaskeiñ in West Jaintia Hills district.
He said that as mass gatherings are to be avoided as per the advisory, the government decided that the earlier planned events such as evening music concerts and tethered balloon flights will not be held for the first three days.
However, there will be only a media conference and a familiarization trip for 50 to 70 invitees who will be going through the existing screening process as per the government of India and State Government’s protocols.
The chief minister also said that the state tourism department has taken steps in coordination with the state department of health and family welfare to ensure that all protocols and precautionary measures are adhered to.
He informed that the situation is being monitored closely and the state government is continuously reviewing the situation.