Shillong, May 17: The 12 returnees from Tamil Nadu, who had tested positive for COVID-19 through a Rapid Testing Kit on Saturday, have yielded negative results for the virus on Sunday.

The results came out negative after taking the samples for test through a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) at the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), a nodal hospital for testing of samples for COVID-19 in Meghalaya.

Meanwhile, the last remaining positive person currently admitted in Shillong Civil hospital has also tested negative.

She had tested COVID-19 positive nine days ago on May 9.

“She will undergo confirmatory test after 24 hours,” Director Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War said.

The patient will remain in hospital till the results are received.

A government official said another 55 returnees from Tamil Nadu are expected to reach the State.

Based on these developments and the number of people who are returning from different parts of the country, the State government has decided not to take any chances, and there would be no further relaxation.

Altogether 6,819 returnees, including 163 people stranded in Gujarat, have arrived in the State.

“Keeping in mind the inflow of Meghalaya citizens from different parts of the country, we have decided to maintain the current restrictions and no further relaxation is planned as of now. If any changes it will be notified accordingly,” Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said.

As the state government has ruled out any further relaxation, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills Matsiewdor War Nongbri has also extended night curfew from May 18 to May 25 from 7pm to 6am daily in view of the prevailing situation concerning COVID-19.

However, security forces, pharmacies, media, essential services, online/home food delivery, post and telegraph, IT services, petrol pumps, authorized workshops and designated spare parts dealerships of Health & Family Welfare Department and government officials on duty among others are exempted from purview of the curfew.