“Prepared” Meghalaya Govt to set up more corona care centre

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 14, 2020

The state government has decided to increase the number of corona care centres for effective handling of the COVID-19 positive cases in the state.

The state COVID-19 tally stood at 270 on Tuesday after 3 more persons have been tested positive for coronavirus.

After a daily review meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong claimed that the situation has improved in the state when compared during the past two weeks.

“Taking into consideration the cases reported yesterday (12) and today (only 3), the situation is improving but we should not be complacent,” Tynsong told reporters.

The deputy chief minister said that the government has decided to increase the number of corona care centres after discussing the prevailing situation at today’s review meeting.

“We have directed the health department to identify a few more locations for setting up the corona care centres after positive cases continue to surge in Shillong and the state as a whole,” he said.

According to the Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War, there is a shortfall of corona care centres in East Khasi Hills District, which is having the highest number of active cases in the state.

He said only the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Umsawli, New Shillong Township has been activated as the corona care centre at present and one each in the different districts of the state.

“In Shillong, NIFT, MATI, Assam Regimental Centre at Lawsohtun and others have been converted as institutional quarantine centres earlier when there were only less positive cases,” he said.

Dr War further informed that 3 returnees have been tested positive for COVID-19 today, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 270.

He said a total of 236 are in East Khasi Hills (179 BSF, 5 armed forces and 52 others), 19 in Ri Bhoi, 9 in West Garo Hills, 2 in East Jaintia Hills, 2 in South Garo hills, 1 in East Garo Hills and 1 in North Garo Hills.

COVID-19 cases in Meghalaya rose to 273

Asked, Dr War said the armed forces include 2 from Air Force, 2 Assam Rifles and 1 from military.

The state has so far recorded 318 positive cases including 2 deaths while 46 have already recovered from the infection.

The DHS said a total of 24,817 samples were sent for testing as on Tuesday of which 24,199 were found to be negative while test results of 300 are awaited. Meanwhile, over 21,837 people have returned to the state from different parts of the country and abroad.