Shillong, May 14 () Over 7,000 people strandedacross the country may return to Meghalaya soon and thestate's capacity to test COVID-19 cases is expected to reach600 a day within two weeks, members of the Assembly wereinformed on Thursday.
Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh chaired a meeting in whichChief Secretary M S Rao provided the members with a detailedpicture of the coronavirus situation in the state.
"Within the next two weeks, the capacity is expectedto increase to 600 tests per day," a joint statement signed bythe Speaker, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Leader ofOpposition Mukul M Sangma, said.
On an average, around 150 COVID-19 tests are conducteddaily in the state now, official sources said.
Till Wednesday, a total of 2,537 samples have beentested in the state which currently has one active coronaviruscase. One patient had died of the disease and 11 have beencured, the chief secretary said at the meeting.
He said over 9,400 people of Meghalaya, who have beenstranded outside the Northeastern region, have registeredtheir names in a government web page created for the purpose.
"Of them, 7,100 are expected to return," Rao informedthe MLAs.
The top official also provided them with the protocolbeing followed in bringing back the people of Meghalaya fromvarious parts of the country.
He said 3,978 people, mainly those stuck in otherNortheastern states, were already brought back.
A total of 1,861 free provision kits were distributedtill May 13 for all individuals under mandatory homequarantine.
Besides, a total of 2,653 home visits were made forenforcing quarantine, the chief secretary said.
Rao said that Meghalaya now has 3,227 beds availablefor treating COVID-19 patients. JOPNN NN
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