SHILLONG: A day after Mawsynram MLA, HM Shangpliang called for COVID tests of border villagers, Meghalaya Government has stated that it can immediately go for a rapid test of the villagers.
Detection of a COVID-19 positive case in a Bangladesh village, just about 500 metres away from one under Mawsynram Block of East Khasi Hills district, has set alarm bells ringing with the local MLA, H M Shangpliang, requesting the government to immediately conduct random tests of villagers living along the border with the neighbouring country.
However, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Monday said that acting on the suggestion would depend on the detailed report to be received from the concerned authorities which will be examined by the Health Department.
“We have given authority to the Health Department and they would take a call and we have no problem and rapid tests can be done immediately,” Tynsong said.
Earlier, Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman Warr said that a case had been detected in Bangladesh which is in close proximity with some of the state’s villages along the border.
He also said that they went to Balat area and reviewed the matter even as he added that response team would examine the matter while reiterating that rapid tests can be done in the village.
It may be mentioned that the COVID-19 positive case has been reported from Dhormopur village under Boglabazar Police Station in Sunamganj district of Bangladesh. This village is only 500 metres away from Ryngku Bazar under Mawsynram Block.
The information was passed on by the BSF Company Commander of the Ryngku BOP following which Shangpliang informed the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma.
The MLA has suggested that tests be conducted immediately on residents of Ryngku, Sonatola and Dangar villages adding these tests will enable the health department carry out a survey of the villages and also prevent the villagers from contacting the disease.