Over 1,600 return to Meghalaya

SHILLONG: Over 1,600 residents of Meghalaya, who had been stranded in other northeast states due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown, have returned since Tuesday, even as more people are expected to come back over the next few weeks.

"Altogether 1,642 people entered the state till 1 pm on Thursday," an official said, adding that all of them would remain in home quarantine along with their respective family members for 14 days as a safety measure.

Stranded people have been entering to the state through four different entry points at Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district, Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills district, Ratacherra in East Jaintia Hills district and Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills district.

Officials informed that so far, 2,054 persons have been tested, of which 1,967 came out to be negative, while 75 test results were awaited.

Meghalaya registered 12 Covid-19 positive cases, of which one person has died, 10 were cured and one remains active and under treatment in a government hospital. Around 7,020 persons in the state are in home quarantine, while 83 are in institutional quarantine, official sources said.

Meanwhile, officials in the health department informed that the state has so far received 1,39,686 personal protection equipments (PPE), 1,38,726 N-95 masks and 5,20,000 3-ply masks for use by healthcare personnel.

On the other hand, CM Conrad K Sangma inaugurated a 250-bed corona care centre at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Umsawli here on Thursday. The CM said that the government intends to admit positive patients, if any, belonging to categories A and B, with mild infection in this facility.

The centre includes separate floors for the staff, suspected cases and positive patients with individual rooms having attached toilets. A police unit has also been stationed for 24-hour duty at the newly set up centre.