Meghalaya govt directs closure of a bank after employee from Assam tests positive for COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 23, 2020

The state government has ordered closure of a bank in Ri Bhoi district after an employee from Assam was tested positive for COVID-19.

Informing this on Tuesday, Health Minister AL Hek told reporters that on receiving the information today, the government has decided to temporarily close down the SBI branch at Khanapara to prevent the spread of the disease.

“This was after a bank employee who is from Assam was tested positive for the coronavirus. However, since the patient was tested in Assam, the case will not be counted in Meghalaya,” Hek said.

Asked, the minister said tracing has already started to identify the high risk and low risk contacts of the patient, who is now undergoing quarantine in Assam.

“We have also given instructions and the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, RM Kurbah is on the job to inform all the people who had visited the bank recently to report to the government or the district medical & health officer (DM&HO),” he said.

The minister further informed that the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has been tested negative for COVID-19 after returning from Manipur on Sunday.

According to him, this is the general protocol for anybody who had gone outside the state and come back on the same day that swab testing has to be conducted.

“A certificate has been issued to the CM, who has again today flown to Manipur for his personal works,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hek informed that the active cases in the state has gone up to 8 after two returnees were tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.