Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Bamang Felix during a virtual meeting on Saturday said that,“Once intensive (Covid) tests are done and mass vaccination is carried out, we can gradually move towards unlocking the capital region.” 

During the meeting, representatives of the state government and various stakeholders were unanimous in their decision to intensify Covid testing and mass vaccination during the extended one-week lockdown in the Itanagar capital region (ICR).

Felix emphasized that “lockdown is not the solution but the need of the hour to stop the chain of transmission.” He said that, once the transmission is controlled, there should be a collaborative effort by every individual to follow the SOPs and Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Highlighting that the state government has already procured sufficient vaccines for the state and more are to be procured in the coming days, he assured that “all those who are eligible would be vaccinated in the coming days.”

Local MLA Techi Kaso stressed on intensifying tests and assured the DA and the health department of his cooperation. “Simultaneously, vaccination should be intensified,” the MLA said. He stressed that the state government should try to reach out to the poor and the needy during these trying times, and opined that “we should try to bring in partial lockdown with exemptions and restrictions.”

ACCI general secretary Toko Tatung stressed that “lockdown is not the solution as Corona is not here for days or weeks. Our emphasis should be on testing, vaccinations and Covid-appropriate behaviour,” Tatung said, and stressed on learning to live with it with proper care. He also urged the state government to give “priority Covid vaccination to people running business establishments.”