52 samples tested negative in NEIGRIHMS: Govt

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 30, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said 52 tests were conducted and all the tests have been found negative.

The persons who were tested for COVID-19 were those who come from outside the state.

“Not a single case has been detected in the state. 52 samples have been sent to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) for testing and all were found to be negative,” Tynsong told reporters here on Monday.

He informed that over 6,000 persons who have returned from outside the state were screened and of this, 3,000 of them have been asked to go for self-quarantine for 14 days.

When asked, the deputy chief minister said that none have violated the quarantine conditions so far.

“To supplement the order we issued, we keep requesting the traditional heads if they find out anybody who violates these protocols (to inform the authority concerned so that) action will be taken,” he added.

On the other hand, Director of Health Service (MI) Dr A War said those found violating the quarantine conditions in their respective homes, will be taken to the quarantine centres by the officials of the district surveillance unit (DSU).

“(Especially) those we have counseled many times if they are violating, we will warned them that if you do not follow the quarantine conditions at home then we will have to take you to the quarantine centres and you will have to be quarantined alone there,” he said while urging the public to inform the DSU against such violators.

To another question, the director said that the concerned persons who have been quarantined will have to apply for a certificate from the DSU.  “The DSU will give a certificate that so and so person has been quarantine and is found not to be suffering from COVID-19 as on date,” he added.