Meghalaya issues fresh guidelines for entry & exit in the state

April 10: As the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing across the country, the Meghalaya government has now come up with fresh guidelines. The state government in a notification mentioned, “Whereas there is a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in many States of the country with the possibility of the emergence of new strains requiring immediate steps to be taken contain the spread of the virus in the State. Therefore, in supersession of all previous Notifications issued in respect of Entry and Exit, the following protocols are hereby issued for information and strict compliance.”

Entry & Exit Protocol

Registration: It is mandatory for all people entering Meghalaya to register themselves prior to their travel at: http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid/testing.htm and to download the Arogya Setu App and the Behavioural Change Management App of Meghalaya from Google play store.

Testing

• All entrants, other than those from North Eastern States shall carry a valid RT PCR/ CBNAAT/ TruNat negative certificate else they will be tested with RTPCR on cost basis. The COVID negative report will be valid only if they were tested within 72 hours of their arrival at the entry point. All entrants tested by RT-PCR at the entry point should go into home quarantine or paid quarantine till the test results are declared.
• Entrants coming with a COVID Negative report but showing symptoms on arrival at the entry point will have to be mandatorily tested by RT-PCR.
• Persons entering the State from any State or Union Territory possessing a valid final certificate of vaccination shall be exempted from testing.
• Day-trippers from N.E. States to be tested using RAT

Quarantine:

All entrants tested by RT•PCR at the entry point should go into home quarantine or paid quarantine till the test results are declared. The test results are usually available within 48 hours. If tested negative, which shall be communicated through an SMS or can be checked online at www.coronamegh.in, such individuals can carry on with their daily activities or work normally. If tested positive, SOP for home or institutional isolation should be followed.

Testing Charges

1. Every entrant who has registered for testing shall pay Rs.500/- (Rupees five hundred only) for testing at the entry point. This shall be exempted for those who are carrying a RT PCR negative re-port from any of the recognised Laboratory (within 72 hours from the time of Sampling)
2. For RT-PCR, the cost is priced at Rs.1000.00 (Rupees One Thousand only) per test.
3. For BPL Households (Yellow & Pink NFSA Cardholders), the test shall be done free of cost in Government Hospitals on medical advice.
4. The test shall be free for the high-risk contacts who need to be tested on the advice of Health Officials.
5. The free test shall not be covered under MHIS unless a person is hospitalized.

Payment is encouraged to be made through mobile banking so that there is no contact during payment. However, cash also shall be accepted for those who do not have mobile based payment.

All entrants exempted from quarantine are to closely monitor their health for 10 days from the date of entry into the State. Upon development of any symptoms of COVID-19, such individuals should self-report to the nearest healthcare facility/ ANM/ ASHA worker. They can also report their symptoms on 14410 – State level COVID helpline. All entrants will be monitored on a regular basis through IVRS calls from the Health Department.

It is also mandatory that all entrants should diligently follow the three recommended COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour at all times, i.e., wearing mask, maintaining social distancing and practicing hand hygiene.