COVID19 test
Representative image.

Meghalaya will be able to double if not triple the facilities to test COVID19 in the next 72 hours.

This was informed by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday.

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On twitter, the chief minister announced that 7,500 rapid test kits for testing antibodies arrived on Sunday.

Responding to a question on using ICAR Umiam as a testing centre for COVID19 suspected cases, Sangma said, “We are aware about the ICAR testing facilities and it was the Meghalaya government that had taken this matter up almost three weeks back with the ICMR.”

“During that time, the ICAR did not give the permission. However, the permission has finally being given now,” the CM added.

“We have already started moving once again with them but apart from that, the government of Meghalaya is also working on increasing facilities through other technologies,” he further said.

In another 24 to 48 hours, the chief minister said, “The government will be having better information on that and I will be able to report. We should be able to double if not triple the testing facilities in the next 48 hours or 72 hours.”

Regarding a Union home ministry order related to movement of stranded migrants within the state, the Meghalaya chief minister said the government will work towards following this order.

“But keeping the situation in mind, we need to be very careful and therefore we will follow strict protocols,” the CM said.

“Areas which have been affected and districts which have been affected there will be complete assessment on how we should move forward and only after assessment is made, the decision will be taken.

“We will take decisions but districts, which are not affected as of now even in those cases only after strict protocol and strict measures are taken only then will go ahead,” he added.

Regarding online classes in rural areas, he informed that when it comes to education, it is a concern.

“Online class is one option because technology is available and we want to use that to facilitate to whatever extent we could know that there are limitations in terms of connectivity in the rural areas and the infrastructure is not sufficient to go ahead with it,” he said.

He said the government is examining if there are other options in other ways to move ahead with this and the education department is working out modalities.

“We are aware of the limitations but since the possibilities and the opportunity was there, we felt that we should use it and try, to give the benefit to as many students as possible through the technology platforms,” he added.