Cases spiking due to returnees: Meghalaya CM

SHILLONG: The spike in the cases of people testing positive for Covid-19 is because of the surge in returnees, many of them from red zones, and not due to community transmission, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma has said.


"We have seen in the last few days and weeks that cases in the northeast have gone up but I think it is very clear that this is primarily due to the returning of the stranded citizens across different parts of the country, many of whom were in the red zones," he said.

"It is expected that we will see some positive cases coming up. I think the issue is that when people come in, they must be screened properly, which you see in almost all the northeastern states , especially Meghalaya, where strict testing protocols are being maintained and screening is very strict," he said.

"It is important to note that community transmission should not happen and therefore there is nothing to be alarmed," he said, pointing out that it would not be surprising if more cases are reported.

Urging people not to be worried, he said, "There is no chance of any kind of community transmission because all of them (returnees) will be kept in corona care centres or quarantine centres ."

Deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong had on Friday said there has been no more violation of quarantine protocols by returnees, especially those coming from outside the region.

The Meghalaya high court had recently asked the state government to caution the returnees about the consequences under law for violation against the quarantine advisories.