SHILLONG, April 11: Darrang, a border village in West Jaintia Hills, has been coerced into closing down all community activities in the village including schools after 13 of its residents were tested positive for COVID-19.
The decision was taken by the Darrang COVID-19 Management Committee along with the Dorbar Shnong on Sunday evening.
When contacted, Rangbah Shnong of Darrang, Aliwsen Ryngksai, informed that all schools, public gathering, MGNREGA work and shops will be closed in view of the fresh COVID-19 cases.
“We will review the situation after the Health department completes the contact tracing exercise in the village,” Ryngskai, who is also the chairman of the Darrang COVID-19 Management Committee, stated.
He informed that there was a lady from Ri Bhoi who arrived at Darrang to attend the funeral of her relative and stayed in the village from March 31 till April 4.
The Rangbah Shnong further said that the lady had visited a health centre in Ri Bhoi for medicine as she had fallen ill. Later, the result of her COVID-19 test came out positive, he added.
According to him, the Health department conducted contact tracing of the people who attended the funeral of the lady’s relative and subsequently 13 of them were tested positive.
Ryngksai said that it will be difficult to state how the lady contracted the virus, while adding that even doctors would not be able to come to a definite conclusion in this case.
PHC CLOSED
In another development related to COVID-19, a primary health centre (PHC) at Dawki in West Jaintia Hills has been ordered to remain closed for two days — Monday and Tuesday.
A patient who was admitted in the PHC has tested positive for the virus.
When contacted, a senior official of the Health department informed that they will conduct sanitisation at the PHC during the two days’ of closure. “There will be no OPD (out-patient department) on both these days,” the official informed.
Surprisingly, after being detected with COVID-19, the person was asked to undergo home quarantine.