SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his deputy Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday took a different stand on COVID patients.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Tynsong was asked to reveal the location of the lady who was tested positive on Monday. She is the 11th active COVID patient in the state.
“She stays in Mawprem. There is nothing to hide, why to hide?” he said, however, adding that revealing further details will give way to stigmatisation of patient.
Late Dr John Sailo Ryntathiang, who was the first COVID patient, tested positive on April 13. The lady friend of the family of Dr Sailo underwent self-quarantine from April 14.
However, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) quoting Conrad mentioned on queries from the public in general asking details of all the positive patients and their names.
The chief minister said, “I would like to say that we must respect the privacy of the patients. I would also like to assure you that the government is acting very fast, the department is acting very fast to activate immediate contact tracing and tests of the primary contacts and the secondary contacts are done.”
“I would like to inform you that the 11th active patient who had tested positive for COVID 19 on April 20 is a close friend of the family of the index case (Dr Sailo). I would also like to inform you that the person is under quarantine and a rapid antibody test has been conducted today of all the seven members of the family of the patient which has come out negative,” Conrad added.
He also said all the patients who have tested positive are stable.
