Meghalaya on Monday registered the first COVID19 positive case.
The COVID19 positive patient is a 69-year-old doctor of Bethany Hospital in Shillong.
Confirming the news, Meghalaya health minister AL Hek on Monday said the doctor tested positive for the deadly COVID19 virus.
Hek said Bethany Hospital has been sealed indefinitely.
The health minister had a detailed discussion with chief minister Conrad K Sangma and directed the health commissioner to follow the COVID19 protocol.
The hospital is being turned into a quarantine centre, and doctors, nurses and other staffs would be put under surveillance for next 14 days.
Hek also directed the health commissioner to identify all the patients the 69-year-old doctor had handled during the last two weeks.
All the patients are likely to be placed in quarantine for the next 14 days.
Family members of the patient would be put under home quarantine, Hek said.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya chief secretary M.S. Rao in a press release informed that a 48-hour curfew has been promulgated from 6 am of Tuesday in Shillong and nearby areas.
The chief secretary requested the common people to cooperate and restrain from coming out of houses to enable health officials to take appropriate remedial measures.
All the patients who had visited Bethany Hospital on or after March 22 were requested to register themselves by calling 108.
“The government is fully prepared to handle the situation and there is no need for the public to have any anxiety on this account,” the chief secretary said.
An emergency Cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday morning to review the situation in the state, the chief secretary said.
In a video clip, shared on his Twitter handle, chief minister Conrad Sangma also requested the citizens of the state not to come out of their homes in the next 48 hours.
He also requested all the citizens to call at 108 if they had visited Bethany Hospital in the last 20 days.
In view of the confirmed #COVID19 case in #Meghalaya, Government has imposed 48 hour curfew in #Shillong and #Nongpoh. Cabinet will meet tomorrow to review the situation. pic.twitter.com/XVgzjWZweM
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) April 13, 2020
Audio statement of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma