Govt may lift containment on BSF campus at Umpling, Shillong Times office

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 25, 2020

The Border Security Force (BSF) has requested the district administration of East Khasi Hills to lift the containment order from its campus at Umpling on the ground that there have been no fresh cases of COVID-19 reported in the past few weeks.

“We have received a letter from the medical officer in-charge (of the composite hospital) informing that the last positive case reported from the campus was on August 11. Since nobody has turned out to be positive, they have requested us to lift the containment,” Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War told reporters here on Tuesday.

Dr War said the health department has accordingly sent its report to the Deputy Commissioner, Matsiewdor War Nongbri with a suggestion that it is advisable to lift the containment from the BSF campus.

He also informed that the medical officer in-charge of the BSF hospital has also assured that they will put stringent measures to prevent the spread and is also willing to take full responsibility if anything happens.

According to him, the process of lifting the containment order is on and decision may be taken by tonight itself.

The BSF camp at Umpling was declared as a containment area on July 10, after there was a surge in the COVID-19 cases among the troopers.

Dr War also informed that there is no bar to lift the containment order on the The Shillong Times office after both the high risk and low risk contacts of positive cases from the office have tested negative for the virus.

“However, the condition is that all the 44 high risk contacts are to remain under quarantine for 10 days. They are also asked not to come out or visit the office premises until they are given certification after completing their quarantine period,” he said.

It may be mentioned here that four employees of the newspaper had tested positive for COVID-19, following which the state government had declared the office as a containment area on Saturday night.

Asked, Dr War said the medical officer is preparing the report and at any point of time, the district magistrate, who is the authority to notify and denotify the containment area, can take a decision on the matter.

The senior medical officer also reminded that the containment of the newspaper was done as per protocols issued by the government to prevent further spread of the disease.