COVID-19 Update | 50 identified as high-risk contacts in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 17, 2020

Commissioner & Secretary in-charge Health and Family Welfare, Sampath Kumar has highlighted protocol being followed by the State to deal with the current COVID-19 situation.

Kumar said 382 number of individuals including 218 doctors, staff and inpatients of Bethany Hospital, Shillong have been tested since the first positive patient (index patient) was detected on the evening of April 13.

Of these, a total of 9 individuals have tested positive, 246 have tested negative and results are awaited for another 127. 

It is important to note that all the positive cases are the family and domestic help of the Index patient and that none of the other doctors, staff or in-patients at Bethany Hospital tested positive so far.

“All Doctors and Staff of Bethany Hospital, Shillong who have tested negative are being kept in various quarantine facilities across the city. They will continue to stay at these quarantine facilities for another two weeks after which they can go home. If they develop symptoms during this period, they will be re-tested,” Kumar said. 

All the occupants in Quarantine Centres are provided with a single room, attached toilet and other essential amenities.

The Health and FW Department has already contacted the remaining 200 medical staff of Bethany Hospital who are in their respective homes under home-quarantine. 

“Of these, about 50 are identified as high-risk contacts and they will all be tested.  These individuals will be brought to the designated Quarantine Centres and samples taken. If they test positive, they will be taken to the Civil Hospital, Shillong (COVID- Designated Hospital). If tested negative, they will be kept under quarantine for 14 days,” he said. 

He however said for the remaining 150 low-risk medical staff of the Bethany Hospital who are under home-quarantine, in view of para 2 above, only symptomatic cases need to be tested as per the protocol adopted. 

“These symptomatic individuals will be brought to the designated Quarantine Centres and their samples will be collected. If they test positive, they will be taken to the Civil Hospital, Shillong (COVID-Designated Hospital). Those who test negative will return to their homes and remain under home-quarantine for 14 days,” he said.

In addition to the doctors and staff of Bethany Hospital, 5092 individuals have self-registered themselves either through calling 108 or 1070 or through online registration. 

Of these, 4622 individuals visited Bethany Hospital, Shillong after 22nd March or Bethany Hospital, Nongpoh after March 30.

The Health and Family Welfare Department has started making IVRS calls to all these individuals to check their health status and symptoms. Based on their responses and age profile, symptomatic individuals are being identified and will be tested. For now, each one of the registered individuals are requested to respond to the IVRS calls and to stay in home-quarantine.

The Department has started contact tracing of the primary contacts of the COVID-19 positive patients and 140 such contacts have been identified. Of these, symptomatic cases will be tested following the similar process as laid down in para 5 or para 6 above based on the risk category.

All asymptomatic doctors and staff of Bethany Hospital, all asymptomatic contacts and all asymptomatic registered individuals are requested to stay in home-quarantine and follow the health advisories issued by the Department related to hand hygiene, cough etiquette, wearing of mask and social distancing.

Meanwhile, the commissioner & secretary also sought the cooperation and support of all headmen, community leaders and residents of the state in implementation of this protocol.