160 samples sent for testing

SHILLONG: Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare department, Sampath Kumar, on Tuesday said 68 samples were collected from Bethany Hospital on Monday night and sent to NEIGRIHMS for testing.
Besides, 92 other samples were collected on Tuesday and sent to Assam for testing.
In an on-line interaction with media persons on Tuesday, Kumar said that the results would take time considering the large number of samples. These would again be vetted by NIV, Hyderabad.
He said that the government was focusing on contact tracing, which is of prime importance, and persons who visited the hospital. “We are identifying primary contacts and some patients”, he said.
In view of the first COVID-19 positive case in the state, Kumar said that people should go for self-quarantine, which is essentially isolation, to prevent the virus.
He said some people do not show symptoms.
He said that people with travel history are to be quarantined so as to contain the spread of the disease.
On the other hand, he urged people to adhere to government advisory on social distancing, wearing face masks and maintaining personal hygiene.