Shillong, April 19: Meghalaya did not record fresh COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours on Sunday, and is waiting for the results of 77 tests.

A total of 766 samples were sent for test, out if which, 678 were tested negative, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.

“All the people who tested positive are stable and in home quarantine, while the domestic help of index patient in institutional quarantine,” he said.

There are 4,198 people in home quarantine,and 175 under institutional quarantine.

To effectively monitor home quarantine, Sangma said the government is using the Quarantine App developed by IIT-Mumbai and those who have visited Bethany hospital in Shillong and Nongpoh and those identified as primary contact or secondary contact of the COVID-19 positive patients are mandated to download the Corontine App.

“The database of about 5,300 individuals who fall in the above categories is with the health and family welfare department. These individuals will all receive an SMS or a link via WhatsApp on their mobile phones to download the app today,” the Chief Minister said.

Sangma said the features of this App was to ensure that the users follow quarantine protocols and also notifies if there are positive cases around you and it helps authorities contain the spread of the virus.

“The State government will also ensure that all families under compulsory home quarantine who have downloaded the app are given free home delivery of rations so that they don’t have to step out of their homes, he assured informing that the process would begin from Wednesday next and all the homes would reached soon.

Seeking the support of all the localities and the quarantined homes, Sangma said, “By Sunday night the Bethany Hospital would be completely evacuated, adding that all the doctors and staff and in-patients of the hospital have been tested and the results were found negative even as the results for three samples were awaited.
“All who tested negative have been shifted to various isolation facilities or discharged to go home and 14 doctors and staff are in Bethany Hospital to complete its lockdown,” he said.