In view of the spike of COVID-19 positive cases in neighbouring Assam, the Meghalaya government has decided to impose total curfew in Ri Bhoi district from Friday night.
It also decided to go for random testing in vulnerable areas in Ri Bhoi district bordering Assam.
Announcing this, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said that taking into consideration the spike of COVID-19 cases areas on national highways from Byrnihat to Khanapara would come under random testing from Saturday.
Tynsong said that total curfew will be clamped for 48 hours from Byrnihat to Khanapara from Friday 9 pm till next Monday morning.
“These decisions have been taken for the safety of our citizens,” Tynsong said.
He informed instructions have been issued to health department as well as the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi district.
Director, health services (MI) Aman War informed that as on Friday, four new positive cases were reported including two BSF personnel, one returnee from Delhi who tested positive in Tura, and another person from Khanapara-B who is the high risk contact of the positive patient.
Now there are seven BSF personnel who tested positive for Coronavirus in Meghalaya.
Around 150 more personnel would come to Meghalaya to resume their duty after their leave period ended.
Now Meghalaya has 18 active cases. Out of 62 total positive cases, 43 persons have recovered while one died.
Out of 20,182 samples sent for test, 19,920 samples were tested negative.
There are 517 persons who are in institutional quarantine centres.
Altogether 19,636 people from other parts of the country have come to Meghalaya till date.