Govt asked not to delay testing of high risk contacts

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 15, 2020

Ka Sur U Paidbah Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep (Voice of U Hynniewtrep) has suggested the state government to ensure that high risk contacts of COVID-19 positive cases are tested immediately without delay to prevent spread of the disease.

“(We) suggest the government that high risk/primary contacts be tested immediately, and if found positive, immediate tracing…should be carried out for preventing further spreading of the virus,” Vice Chairman Rastingwell Thabah said in a letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday.

“If the test results are negative,the person(s) may be kept in isolation for retest after three to four days, if required a third test may be conducted after another three to four days for containing and to prevent Community transmission,” he said.

He said it has been observed that the concerned authorities are not carrying out immediate tests on high risk/primary contacts of positive cases.

“While enquiring, we were informed by the concerned authority that usually immediate testing is not carried out for such persons since the result could be varying after four to five days,” he said.

The letter also expressed surprise that the responsibility for monitoring self isolation has been given only to the dorbar shnong.