Meghalaya on April 9 reported 42 fresh cases of COVID-19, the highest daily spike of the viral infection this year. With the detection of the fresh cases, the number of active cases in the state went up to 167.
With the sudden spurt of COVID-19 cases, the Meghalaya government has tightened COVID-19 protocols in the state. An order mentioned that shops, restaurants and bars would be closed at 9 pm. The state government has also increased the penalty against those who don’t wear masks in public places.
However, the government has not taken a decision on closure of schools and colleges and left in on school authorities to decide on it for the time being.
“All entrants into the state, baring those from the Northeast, would have to produce a RT-PCR or CBNAAT or TruNat negative certificate or would be tested at the entry point on a payment basis,” the notification issued by the chief secretary MS Rao said.
“Day trippers from the Northeast states would be tested using RAT. Testing and checking at the entry points would be strictly enforced. Bus and tourist taxi drivers would be tested on a regular basis (using RAT) at the Polo grounds in Shillong,” the notification noted.
Rao said attendance in congregation would be brought down to 50 per cent after the autonomous district council elections in Garo Hills.
Director Health Services (MI) Aman War said the number of active cases in the state shot up to 167, even as six more recoveries from the viral infection were also reported from the East Khasi Hills district taking the number of recovered cases in the state to 13,889.
