Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 628/20

ORDER

Due to the detection of positive COVID-19 cases/ high risk contacts in the specific identified houses in Rilbong due to recent high risk and low risk contact with the COVID-19 positive cases and because vulnerable and affected areas require aggressive contact tracing, quarantine, testing and isolation as well as containment in the interest of the health of the general public against any possible spread of COVID-19, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District, in an order issued on 23rd August, 2020 has declared the house of Nirmal Ghosh and the house of Shipra Paul at Rilbong as containment areas with effect from 23rd August, 2020 so as to restrict unregulated entry and exit movement on site. The order states that no person, public are allowed to move into the containment areas and inhabitants within the containment areas shall not move out, besides all inhabitants within the containment areas shall strictly remain inside their homes. Gatherings, events, functions whatsoever of any nature and forms including social, political, religious, economic activities are not allowed.

All shopping establishments shall be closed immediately and supply of essential and medical requirements for purchase will be ensured through various teams formed by the District Administration. All Government and private institutions located within the boundary of the containment areas are to close forthwith, till further orders. According to the order, the Incident Commander, Zone-II, will be the Supervising Officer of the house of Nirmal Ghosh and the house of Shipra Paul at Rilbong which are declared as containment areas. The order, however, will not apply to health workers and essential workers of Shillong Municipal Board, press including electronic and print media, petrol pumps and LPG delivery workforce. The order also states that any violation of the order will entail prosecution under the penal provision of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and I.P.C.