COVID-19: Meghalaya begins random testing, 350 turn negative at Khanapara

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 4, 2020

The state health authorities on Saturday carried out the exercise to randomly test on people at Khanapara in Ri Bhoi along the inter-state border with Assam to prevent spread of COVID-19 in the state.

“Rapid tests were conducted on 350 persons at Khanapara area and all have turned out to be negative,” Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War told reporters.

The state government has directed the need to carry out the random testing from Byrnihat to Khanapara areas bordering Assam following the sudden spike in the number of infections.

A 48-hour curfew has also been clamped in the areas to restrict the residents from coming out of their homes.

Ri Bhoi has reported five new cases on Saturday, taking the number of active cases in the district to 10.

Asked, Dr War said for now the priority area is Khanapara and 13^th Mile. “We will then come down to Byrnihat and may be upto Rani or Pilangkata.”

Stating that the government is doubling its effort to contain the spread of COVID-19, he said, “With the curfew being clamped in the district, I hope the spread will be curbed.”

To a query, the DHS however said as of now the state has been able to traced all high risk contacts of the positive cases adding more or less the state is safe.