23 BSF jawans test positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 7, 2020

Over 23 jawans of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

After a review Health Minister AL Hek told reporters on Tuesday that the Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test has been conducted on over 865 BSF personnel at the composite hospital.

“A total 23 jawans were tested positive for COVID-19 while 536 were found to be negative. The test results of 281 are awaited,” Hek said.  

This was after the state health department had decided to conduct a test of all the people residing in the Border Security Force (BSF) camp at Umpling.

Earlier when asked, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the test conducted in Sikkim for paramilitary forces was only a rapid test. “But we are making it mandatory to ensure the RT-PCR test is being conducted,” he said.

Tynsong also added that RT-PCR tests have been conducted on all the 20,470 returnees from different parts of the country and abroad.

He said not less than 200 to 300 people are coming back to the state on a daily basis.

The deputy chief minister further stated the health department is maintaining a close coordination with the BSF hospital and military hospital in the city.

According to him, testing capacity for COVID-19 in Meghalaya is 645 samples per day.