A Correspondent SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Youth Congress has urged the State government to significantly expand and enhance COVID-19 testing to help identify cases early and stop the spread of the virus. “We have 11 active cases so far. More tests are required. We need more testing centres in Meghalaya,” Richard Marak president of Meghlaya Youth Congress said. Marak also said that a major expansion in testing is the need of the hour for priority groups most at risk to being exposed to the virus like, hospital inpatients, long-term care residents, healthcare workers, first responders, frontline personnel, volunteers and vulnerable population. He also suggested that the government establish a same-day testing results through a user friendly online portal. “Only increased testing will help give a clearer picture of the situation on ground, risk areas and how best to mitigate the situation on ground,” Marak said. He also stated that there is need for more testing centres equipped with testing kits and mobile testing facilities. “We especially need a testing centre in Garo Hills too. And better collection techniques from the door to door collection teams,” the Meghalaya Youth Congress president said. Meanwhile, he also said that the stigma that is being associated with COVID-19 in the minds of the people should be stopped through widespread community awareness about the disease. Marak said that “misleading terms” like social distancing are outdated and it should instead be replaced by physical distancing. He also urged the government to be transparent with the test results. According to him, hiding the names of positive patients will only heighten the paranoia that has already seeped in to the psyche of the people. “It is only through transparency and community engagement that stigmatization and misconceptions can be cleared,” the Meghalaya Youth Congress president said. Moreover, Marak also suggested that the state government should chalk out plans and work out all the logistics involved to bring back citizens stranded in other parts of the country. “Arrangements should be made to quarantine them in every district when they return for a minimum of 30 days or more without going home and unnecessarily putting others at risk,” he added. Also Read: COVID-19 positive cases now stand at 12 in Meghalaya: Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong Also Watch: Quick Shoppe in Guwahati takes precautionary measures against the spread of Coronavirus

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