SHILLONG: Returnees are all set to arrive in the state as entry points will open up on Friday midnight. A tent has been set up in Polo Ground to facilitate the registration of returnees with counters that will cater to specific returnees.
The counters were that of senior citizens and family, Indian returnees and foreign returnees & paid quarantines. Outside at the tent, the tariff for paid quarantine is displayed for those foreign and Indian returnees who wish to opt for paid quarantine.
A staff stationed at the center in Polo told The Shillong Times that necessary precautionary measures are in place. To ensure protection, a transparent plastic separates the returnees and the staff at the center.
On the other hand, people were queuing up at the Polo testing center and they are either primary or secondary contacts of positive patients.
Asked, whether the government expects a steep rise in COVID-19 cases, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said, “If you talk about positive cases as seen in the records most of the positive cases with the exception of the wedding party, is mostly from the returnees and next is the armed forces”.
He added, “We will not be at risk if there are positive cases from the returnees as we follow a safe protocol as when they enter, we have tested them, social distancing, transportation is arranged and they will be taken to Polo for testing. We send them for institutional quarantine and after they get the RTPCR report, if they are negative they can go home for community quarantine”.
“From tomorrow (August 1), the returnees are allowed to return to the state and when they come, they have to apply online and the information provided should be well in advance and the protocols will be followed as usual. They are to enter from the entry point where they will be checked and come to Polo where they will undergo Antigen test. They will be sent to institutional quarantine. At the institutional quarantine, they will collect the RT-PCR sample for testing”, Tynsong said.
If the report is negative, they are asked to go home for home quarantine or community quarantine. Inter-state movement is still not allowed.