Meghalaya | Eight COVID-19 patients test negative

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 29, 2020

Eight of the eleven patients, who were found COVID-19 positive in the state, were tested negative on Wednesday after they have recovered from the disease even as the state government termed the development as a ‘good sign’.

The samples of the eight patients were sent for re-testing to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) after they have completed 14 days of home-quarantine on Tuesday.

However, re-test will again be conducted after 24 hours before they are declared as fully recovered from the coronavirus infection, which is as per protocol issued by the Government of India.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in his twitter post said, “16 family members of the index patient were tested again, including the 8 who were positive. Their test results came in today and they have all tested negative. 8 positive cases will need to be tested again after 24 hours as per protocol to completely declare them as recovered.”

Earlier while addressing media after a cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that as on Wednesday a total of 1397 samples were collected and sent for testing out of which 1288 including the eight positive cases were negative.

Tynsong said that samples of the eight persons who were earlier tested positive were sent for re-testing after they have completed the quarantine period yesterday.

“However, samples of the eight patients will again be collected after 24 hours which means by tomorrow evening for retesting as per protocol and we are expecting to get the results day after tomorrow (on Friday),” he added.

Asked, Tynsong said it is a good sign for the entire state with the recovery of the eight patients from the deadly virus. “As of now, (we can say that) Meghalaya is more or less safe from COVID-19 as eight patients have recovered. Yes, we can say that we are about to be a COVID-19 free state,” he stated.

Stating that the disease is curable, Tynsong however said the only concern is the transmission rate of the disease which is very high.

The deputy chief minister further informed that sample of the ninth positive patient will be collected and sent for testing today adding the other two positive patients will also be tested again after they complete the quarantine period.

Earlier, the state government had decided to put on hold the uses of the rapid test kits (RTK) and wait for the direction of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), after concerns have been expressed on their accuracy level.

The Centre has allotted over 7,500 RTKs for Meghalaya to screen people for coronavirus in order to effectively combat against the spread of the COVID-19.

When asked, the deputy chief minister said that the government will soon start screening of people for coronavirus by using the RTKs. According to him, over 5,000 RTKs have arrived in the state.

Meanwhile, Tynsong informed that the state has so far received over 1 lakh of personal protection equipments (PPEs), 5.10 lakh 3 ply masks and 1.16 lakh N95 masks.