File image of Bethany Hospital in Shillong

All patients and staff of Bethany hospital in Meghalaya capital Shillong have been evacuated and kept in safe locations.

The hospital is being sanitized now.

Health minister, A L Hek said the Bethany hospital has been temporarily shut down to contain the further spread of the virus by shifting all the staff of the hospital to other locations.

Out of ten COVID-19 positive cases, two are domestic helpers, and eight family members of the first patient, Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang, who passed away on April 15.

Till Sunday, a total of 766 samples were sent for test, out of which, 678 samples tested negative, and the test results of 77 samples are awaited.

A total of 218 doctors, staff and inpatients of Bethany Hospital, Shillong have been tested since the first positive patient was detected on the evening of April 13.

None of the other doctors, staff or in-patients at Bethany Hospital were tested positive so far.

All doctors and staff of Bethany Hospital, Shillong who have tested negative were being kept in various quarantine facilities across the city.

They will continue to stay at these quarantine facilities for another two weeks after which they can go home.

If they develop symptoms during this  period, they will be re-tested.