Shillong Aug 14: The Meghalaya cabinet has approved the proposal to set up a separate COVID-19 cell for management and surveillance of the pandemic in the state as the current programme management unit under the National Health Mission has been overburdened with the management of numerous Central schemes and programmes.
“The matter was discussed in the cabinet in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the state of Meghalaya and it was felt essential to have a state COVID Cell for management and surveillance of the pandemic situation in the state,†minister, and government spokesperson, James PK Sangma said.
This dedicated cell would put in efforts on identifying and taking preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection.
The proposal would consist of a state management unit, district management unit, dedicated team at the four major entry points for sampling, registration of civilians entering the state, besides dedicated teams to manage the selected quarantine and Corona Care Centres.
The COVID-19 cell for management and surveillance of the pandemic would be headed by the Mission Director of the National Health Mission to oversee the functioning of this cell.
The role of this COVID management unit is to primarily man the entry points for registration of all civilians entering into the state, for data collection and data management, to monitor disease trends, and management of quarantine and corona care centres and detection and response to disease outbreaks.
The budgetary requirement placed before the cabinet for consideration was Rs. 5.5 crore.
“This was discussed and the cabinet has duly approved the proposal,†he said.
Meghalaya reported 35 new positive COVID-19 cases and 34 patients who have recovered from the viral infection Friday.
With 35 new cases including 23 Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, the number of active cases has increased to 641, while the total number of persons who have recovered, went up to 581 so far.
Director of Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War said that among the 35 new cases, seven were BSF troopers and seven civilians which include one returnee from Haryana, staff nurse of Civil hospital Shillong, three high risk contacts from North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHM) besides two from Rilbong and Mawbah were detected in East Khasi Hills district.
Dr War informed that 20 more cases were also detected in West Garo Hills district, including three persons tested positive for the viral infection during a random testing at Community Health Centre in Phulbari, one worker of Corona Care Centre at Walbakgre and 16 BSF troopers, Dr. War said.
While a returnee from Assam tested positive for viral flu in South West Garo Hills district.
“Thirty-four persons, including 22 civilians, eight BSF troopers, one Armed Force in East Khasi Hills, two BSF troopers in West Garo Hills and one civilian in East Jaintia Hills recovered on Friday,†he informed.
So far the State has recorded a total of 1,228 confirmed COVID 19 cases out of which, 641 are active cases, 581 recovered, and six deceased.
War said that till Friday, 42,910 samples have been sent for testing out of which 41,425 have tested negative and results of 257 are awaited.
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