Shillong, May 25: The Meghalaya government has decided to ramp up bed capacity for COVID-19 patients in and around Shillong city. 150 beds will be set up at three buildings which are being used as corona care centers- ITI Office at Rynjah, BTC at Malki and Directorate of Commerce and Industries at Nongrim hills.

Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that these will be made functional the earliest as possible.

Tynsong informed that few other issues were discussed in the review meeting.

The government has given 48 hours and entrusted the health department to work on the details of COVID-19 patients at different private hospitals.

“We have discussed relating to issue of expenditure which has to be met by concerned patients in different private hospitals. The health department will have to come up with a proposal or what solution we can provide to these people,” said Tynsong.

The government in its review meeting has also discussed about the plight of those families who have succumbed to COVID. The health department will come up with what kind of assistance can be done from the end of the govt.

The government has also decided to setup more beds in the CHC as well as PHC level throughout the state.

“We felt that we needed to have a corona care center upto these levels. Atleast 20 beds each PHC and CHC should have, it will be helpful to cater to people in rural areas,” said Tynsong.

This issue has also been entrusted to the health department to come up with a plan.
Relating to the plight of farmers, the agriculture dept had brought a proposal of setting up wholesale and retail market, and the government has approved the following markets.

The government has also decided that the car passes relating to farming activities, farming traders, etc it will be taken care of by dept of agriculture, consisting of the district horticulture officer, Dist Agriculture officer, and this information will have to be furnished to the District Administration.