Coronavirus | Meghalaya revised protocols for traveller entering the state

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 18, 2021

Meghalaya Government has issued fresh protocols for people entering the state in view of the possibility of the emergence of new strains and the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in other States.

As per the revised protocols issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Department, Sampath Kumar, IAS on Thursday said that it is mandatory for all people entering Meghalaya to register themselves prior to their travel.

Persons entering the State from any State or Union Territory possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination or a COVID-Negative report shall be exempted from testing at the entry point.

A negative RT-PCR / TruNat / CBNAAT report is mandatory for persons coming from the States of Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Karnataka. RAT negative report shall not be valid for persons coming from these four States. The COVID negative report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. For those persons who do not have a COVID Negative report, sample for RT-PCR testing shall be taken at the entry point on payment basis. Such persons shall proceed to their residence or place of stay and shall be quarantined until the test results are declared.

Meanwhile Persons entering the State from another Country (International Travellers) possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination or a COVID-Negative report (as indicated below) shall be exempted from testing at the entry point.

For International travellers entering the State who do not have a COVID vaccination certificate have to produce a negative RTPCR / CBNAAT / TruNat test report. The report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. RAT Negative report will not be valid for International Travellers.

Entry & Exit Protocol

Registration

It is mandatory for all people entering Meghalaya to register themselves prior to their travel at: http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid/testing.htm, and to download the Arogya Setu App and the Behavioural Change Management App of Meghalaya from Google play store.

Testing
Persons entering the State from any State or Union Territory possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination or a COVID-Negative report (as indicated below) shall be exempted from testing at the entry point.
A negative RT-PCR / TruNat / CBNAAT report is mandatory for persons coming from the States of Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Karnataka. RAT negative report shall not be valid for persons coming from these four States. The COVID negative report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. For those persons who do not have a COVID Negative report, sample for RT-PCR testing shall be taken at the entry point on payment basis. Such persons shall proceed to their residence or place of stay and shall be quarantined until the test results are declared.
Persons coming from States or Union Territories other than the four States mentioned above should have been tested at a recognized laboratory by RT-PCR / TruNat / CBNAAT / RAT. The RT-PCR / TruNat / CBNAAT report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. RAT Negative report will be valid only if tested within 48 hours of their arrival at the entry point. For those persons in this category who do not have a COVID-Negative report, testing at entry points will be available at a cost fixed by the Government. Persons can choose either Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or RT-PCR.
Persons coming with a COVID Negative report but showing symptoms on arrival at the entry point will have to be mandatorily tested by RT-PCR.
Quarantine
All persons tested by RT-PCR at the entry point should go into home quarantine or paid quarantine till the test results are declared. The test results are usually available within 48 hours which shall be communicated through an SMS or can be checked online at www.coronamegh.in. If tested negative, such individuals can carry on with their daily activities or work normally. If tested positive, SOP for home or institutional isolation should be followed.

For International Travellers
Persons entering the State from another Country (International Travellers) possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination or a COVID-Negative report (as indicated below) shall be exempted from testing at the entry point.
For International travellers entering the State who do not have a COVID vaccination certificate have to produce a negative RTPCR / CBNAAT / TruNat test report. The report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. RAT Negative report will not be valid for International Travellers.
International Travellers who do not have a COVID Negative report, sample for RT-PCR testing shall be taken at the entry point on payment basis. RAT testing option shall not be available for such persons.
All international travellers should undergo home quarantine or paid quarantine for 7 days from the date of their arrival regardless of their test results.

IMPORTANT NOTE: All persons entering the State exempted from quarantine are to closely monitor their health for 10 days from the date of entry into the State. Upon development of any symptoms of COVID-19, such individuals should self-report to the nearest healthcare facility/ANM/ASHA worker. They can also report their symptoms on 14410 – State Level COVID helpline. All persons entering the State will be monitored on a regular basis through IVRS calls from the Health Department. It is also mandatory that all persons entering the State should diligently follow the three recommended practices: wearing mask, maintaining social distancing and practicing hand hygiene.