SHILLONG: State Health officials here were in a tizzy last week-end after it transpired that a marriage party that recently returned from Guwahati after attending a wedding, were to be traced out for testing their COVID status. Frenetic workers fanned out on a war footing to different parts of Shillong to track them down before the COVID-virus could take a virulent turn in the community.
Health workers clad in PPE descended in these localities, suspended pedestrian movement and resorted to disinfection of the areas surrounding the houses of those involved. The swabs were collected, some of them were sent to official quarantine centres as a precautionary measure.
Fortunately, after strenuous efforts the fears proved unfounded as all 41 people who attended the marriage ceremony tested negative.
The marriage party consisted of 41 members from different parts of Shillong had visited Greenwood Resort, Khanapara, in Guwahati for a wedding on June 26. Of these, 16 were from Mawprem, 11 from Bishnupur, five from Madan Laban, four from Lower Lachumiere, a couple from Pynthorbah and one from Laitumkhrah. Besides, two Hindu priests were also part of the team for performing the marriage rites.
The marriage party left Shillong and returned the same day hence they were not subjected to the rigorous testing that people normally coming from outside the State are put through.
It was only after an employee from Greenwood resort who lives in Ri Bhoi district in the area between Assam and Meghalaya had tested positive that the contact tracing began and these persons who had attended the marriage ceremony also had to be traced since they were in contact with the Greenwood employee.
Meghalaya DHS, Dr Aman War informed that much to the relief of all concerned all the 41 people from different areas of Shillong had been tested and the results are negative.
When asked why movement of so many people was allowed to a COVID hotspot, Dr War said that as per rules, marriages with a restricted number of guests/relatives were allowed.
Dr War ruled out any possibility of community spread of COVID as feared since each one of the 41 people have tested negative.
