7,100 Citizens Stranded outside Northeast Set to Return to Meghalaya: Govt

Guwahati: Amid the ongoing crisis relating to the COVID-19 outbreak across the world, a high-level review meeting was held on May 14 with the participation of the Meghalaya Government and Opposition leaders to discuss the prevailing COVID-19 situation. In the meeting, the Conrad K Sangma led regime informed that 9,400 individuals from Meghalaya who are stranded outside the NE states have registered and 7,100 individuals are expected to return in the coming days.

On Stranded Meghalayans Returning Home:

Separate web link in the Meghalaya Government portal was created to register stranded citizens outside North East. So far, over 9400 individuals have registered and 7,100 individuals are expected to return and arrangements have been made to bring back Meghalayans stranded in various parts of the country and other states' Governments have been contacted.

Pertinently, as of May 13, a total of 3978 stranded individuals were brought back into the state via 5 identified entry points (Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills, Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi, Ratacherra in East Jaintia Hills, Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills, and Mir Jhumla in South West Garo Hills.

Meanwhile, separate protocol for entry for individuals coming from North East States and individuals coming from other states has been put in place. All incoming individuals will have to be under home quarantine, along with their families, for a period of 14 days.

The Meghalaya Government has also made arrangements for support and follow-up for individuals and families under quarantine. A total of 1,861 free provision kits were distributed till May 13 2020 for all individuals under mandatory home quarantine. Besides this, a total of 2,653 home visits were made for enforcing quarantine.

Testing and Infrastructure:

A total of 2,537 tests were conducted wherein 2,526 tests were declared "negative." The total positive cases were 13 and the number of active cases stands at 1 on the present date. The Government has informed that within the next two weeks, the capacity is expected to increase to 600 tests per day.

The State now has 3,227 beds available and as per the Government, "adequate" stock of health equipment is now available across the State. 1,53,213 PPE kitss, 6,30,300 3-ply masks, 1,48,678 N-95 masks, and 20 ventilators are available.

During the meeting, the opening of the largest corona care facility and quarantine centre that was recently inaugurated at the IIM in Umsawli was also highlighted. This facility has a total capacity of 258 and will accommodate the asymptomatic and the mild symptomatic individuals.

Message for Meghalaya Citizens:

The meeting urged citizens of Meghalaya to "provide sensitive support to all COVID-19 positive individuals and those probable cases and not to stigmatize any individual". as the virus can affect any person. The citizens have also been urged to accept the returning individuals and not stigmatise against them or their families and it was concluded that tupport of community COVID management committee is needed to enforce quarantine.

Moreover, citizens have been urged not to be fearful of the virus and to follow the standard protocols relating to personal hygiene, hand washing, cough etiquette and social distancing. The Government said that it is fully prepared to deal with all cases that may need hospitalization, and urged the citizens to be "respectful and kind" to all the health care staff and other frontline workers.

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