Patient at NEIGRIHMS is having RTI not coronavirus, Meghalaya has no testing centre

Shillong March 09: There is no testing centre in Meghalaya though fear of coronavirus has gripped the citizens of the state.

The state government has also clarified that no coronavirus patient has been detected in the state and warned that action against people who spread wrong information would taken as they created fear and panic among the citizens.

A false news was spread through WhatsApp about a patient, with respiratory tract infection (RTI) has been infected with the coronavirus.

The patient is being treated at NEIGRIHMS, Mawdiangdiang, doctors said, while informing the condition of the patient is stable.

Following the spread of false news, Health Minister, A L Hek along with doctors, informed media persons on Monday evening the patient has not been infected with the virus, but has respiratory tract infection (RTI).

“Strong action would be taken against the person who circulated the wrong information about the patient through WhatsApp,” Hek said.

The patient was kept in isolation ward because he has a travel history to Delhi and the test report is awaited.

State Surveillance Officer, Dr M. Marbañiang said that people having travel history to China, and few other countries were screened on their return to the state as preventive measures, and kept them under observation for 28 days.

“We have screened people who returned from abroad including 44 from China, 12 from Thailand, three from Japan and two from Singapore and kept them under observation. All of them have completed the formalities and no one was found to have been infected with the virus,” she said.

The state health department has also issued advisory to various departments including tourism and district administrations to help informing the public about the need to follow instructions as part of the measures to combat the virus.

The district administrations will also issue instructions to various Dorbar Shnongs and hold interactions with headmen on steps required to be taken to fight against the virus.

Meanwhile State health officials and doctors said that people suspected to have been infected with the virus should wear mask.

People have rushed to buy masks on Monday and sellers are taking advantage by selling at exorbitant rate.

Some people paid Rs 100 for one mask, some paid Rs 400.

The health officials however clarified saying, “the price of one N95 mask is Rs 42, and one three-ply face mask will cost only Rs 5.”

On absence of testing centre which compelled the state to send the test to Kolkata, health officials said that one testing centre would come up at NEIGRIHMS soon.