SHILLONG: The state government has scaled up daily testing capacity to almost 1,000 RT-PCR tests from 30 tests per day in April.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion of Independence Day celebrations at Polo Ground on Saturday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the government has utilised the last four months to ramp up its health infrastructure for combating COVID.
“We are equipped with around 1,500 dedicated COVID beds. We also have 32 dedicated ventilators, 80 BiPap machines and over 2,56,000 personal protective equipment (PPE). Our testing capacity has dramatically improved. From 30 tests per day in April, we have scaled up our daily testing capacity to almost 1,000 RT-PCR tests. We now have 12 testing centres spread across nine districts of the state. The remaining two districts will also be provided with testing facilities very shortly”, the chief minister said.
Another significant aspect of the COVID management strategy was the setting up of high-quality institutional quarantine centres. He said the IIM new campus at Umsawli is one of the largest Corora Care Centres in the region with 258 rooms with attached toilets. Across the state, there are 2,700 beds for quarantine.
Besides, the state has lover 1,200 Community Quarantine Centres which are set up and fully managed by the communities. The government is supporting the centres through a grant of Rs 10,000.
The Community Quarantine Centres and COVID Management Committees in each village and locality is a huge success story of Meghalaya’s COVID response, he said, adding that it is also a testimony to the communitarian and caring ethos of the state and has been lauded by the World Health Organization.
He also said the exemplary fearlessness and sensitivity displayed by leaders like Borlik Suting, the Rangbah Shnong of Mawtharia-Pomlakrai village, the first rural area to have a COVID positive case, is worth highlighting.
He also thanked all those who have contributed to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund as the current amount is Rs 9.5 crore. The contributions have helped to acquire 45 ambulances, three bio medical waste vans and take up other relief efforts.
Help to weaker section
To alleviate the distress of weaker section, Rs 51 crore was spent- Rs. 5,000 each for 25,794 registered workers and Rs 2,100 each for 1,81,491 unregistered workers.
Conrad said 3,18,000 women bank account holders were provided an assistance of Rs 1,500 each, 1,38,000 farmers were provided an assistance of Rs 2,000 each and 53,692 pensioners were also supported under the Pradhan Mantri Gharib Kalyan Yojana.
Achievement
The chief minister said Meghalaya is among the lowest COVID impacted states in the country in terms of number of cases. “Currently, with a total of 1,228 cases, we have the lowest number of cases per million population among all Indian states and union territories barring Lakshadweep”, he said.
He added that the government has clear protocols for containing the spread of the virus. “We also have the health infrastructure in the eventuality of an increase in cases. We should also remember that 581 people have already recovered from COVID-19 and are living normal lives. They should be looked upon as inspirations as they emerged victorious and gave all the support and confidence. There can be no room for stigmatisation of any individual. The virus demands us to be vigilant, but not fearful”, he said.
“There is a need to change our behaviour incorporating the cardinal principles of the new normal- social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing and proper cough etiquette. With the right behavioural changes, we can continue to live our lives, conduct our daily business and protect ourselves and our loved ones”, he said.
Stranded citizens
He also said the government has acted swiftly to provide relief to over 10,000 stranded citizens and transferred Rs. 3,000 each to their bank accounts.
Post the opening up of limited air and rail travel, more people started returning to the state. The total number of people who returned to the state is over 27,000, he said.
Over seven lakh IVRS calls were made and another 84,453 home visits were done by the frontline workers. Till date, around 29,000 provision kits have been distributed.