Meghalaya: Families of COVID+ refuses to test in Shillong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 21, 2020

The District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong has informed that report has been received from the Incident  Commander,  Zone-II and the District Surveillance Officer that six high-risk primary contacts who are the immediate family members of a COVID-19 positive who reside at Nepali Compound, Rilbong have refused to undergo testing for COVID-19.

It was also reported that the District Surveillance Officer and Medical Officer in-charge of Bishnupur UPHC had instructed the family members to undergo COVID-19 testing and in view of their outright refusal, without which the COVID status of the family members is unknown,  there is every apprehension  that it could  lead  to spreading  of infection and amount to endangering the health of the public at large, if the family members are able to move around freely.

According to the District Magistrate ,  it is deemed necessary that this house be declared as a containment area till such time as the Medical Officer in-charge opines that the probable/suspect  COVID-19 positive cases in the household  have recovered/ are no longer a risk or till the said persons  undergo testing following which necessary protocols would then be followed depending on the results and this would also enable the Medical Officer in-charge to closely monitor the health of the said high-risk primary contacts, including in the  event of any of them developing symptoms.

Therefore, in the interest of the public in general and in exercise of the powers conferred under  the  Meghalaya   Epidemic  Diseases,  COVID-19  Regulations  2020  and  Amendments thereof, the District Magistrate, East Khasi Hills District in an order issued on 21^st September, 2020 has declared  the  house  of  Shri  Santosh  Thapa  located  at  Nepali Compound, Rilbong as a containment area with effect from21^st September, 2020so as to restrict unregulated entry and exit on the site.

The order state that no persons are allowed to move into the containment area and inhabitants within the area shall not move out, besides all inhabitants within the containment area shall strictly remain inside their homes.

The Incident Commander, Zone-II, Shillong shall supervise and monitor strict compliance of the order.

Any violation of these orders shall entail prosecution under the penal provision of Disaster Management Act, 2005 and I.P.C. 

In another order, the District Magistrate has also declared the house of Robin Laloo, Block-II, Upper Lachumiere and Eee Cee Bakery & servant’s Dormitory, Hopkinson Road, Lower Lachumiere as micro-containment areas.