SHILLONG: Eight family members of late Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang, the first COVID-19 patient in the state, were tested negative on Wednesday.
They were earlier declared positive and after 14 days, tests were conducted again on Monday as per protocols.
The eight patients will be tested again after 24 hours before declaring them as recovered.
Besides, the government has also tested 8 other family members but their test results were negative.
“All 8 positive cases will need to be tested again after 24 hours as per the protocol to completely declare them as recovered”, said Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Meghalaya has so far reported 12 COVID- 19 positive cases of which 11 are still active after the first patient died.
Stating that the positive patients becoming negative is indeed a positive sign, Conrad, however, said the level of alertness must not come down and all preventive measures should continue.
The samples for retesting the remaining patients were also taken on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said Meghalaya will soon be free from COVID-19 as eight of the positive patients have tested negative.
He also said that people should not panic though the transmission of the disease is very high.
According to Tynsong, so far 1397 samples have been tested out of which 1288 were negative and the results of 97 are awaited.
Meanwhile, the state has started the use of Rapid Test Kits for screening which was earlier put on hold following directions from ICMR.
