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Meghalaya govt tightens entry-exit protocol over surge in COVID-19 cases

By The Assam Tribune - 19 March 2021 12:00 PM GMT

Shillong, March 19: With COVID-19 cases surging once again across parts of the country, Meghalaya government has tightened the entry-exit protocols in to the State.

A notification has been issued “in view of the possibility of the emergence of new strains and the rise in the number of cases in other States,” and it has been made mandatory for all people entering Meghalaya to register themselves prior to their arrival.

The registration has to be done on the website http://meghalayaonline.gov.inlcovid/testing.htm, Arogya Setu App and the Behavioural Change Management App of Meghalaya has to be downloaded from Google Play Store.

Furthermore, a person entering Meghalaya from any State or Union Territory possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination or a COVID-Negative report shall be exempted from testing at the entry point.

However a negative “RT-PCR, TruNat, CBAAT report is mandatory” for persons coming from the States of Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Karnataka.

“RAT negative reports shall not be valid for persons coming from these four States. The COVID negative report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point,” the notification added.

Those who do not have a COVID negative report, sample for RT-PCR testing shall be taken at the entry point on payment basis. Such persons shall proceed to their residence or place of stay and shall be quarantined until the test results are declared.

Persons coming from States or Union Territories other than the four States mentioned above should have been tested at a recognized laboratory by RT-PCR, TruNat, CBNAAT or RAT and would be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point.

However, RAT Negative reports will be valid only if tested within 48 hours of their arrival at the entry point.

All persons tested by RT-PCR at the entry point should go into home quarantine or paid quarantine till the test results are declared. The test would be available within 48 hours.

Persons entering the State from another Country (International Travellers) possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination or a COVID-Negative report (as indicated below) shall be exempted from testing at the entry point.

“It is also mandatory that all persons entering the State should diligently follow the three recommended practices: wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing and practicing hand hygiene,” the notification further added.