COVID-19 tally rises to 2,734, Govt admits to community spread in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 4, 2020

Admitting that the community spread of the COVID-19 has begun in the state, the Meghalaya government has asked citizens to wholeheartedly follow protocols at all times.

The COVID-19 active cases have increased to 1,252 after 108 more persons were tested positive for coronavirus while the death toll has also risen to 14 on Friday.

“Let me just be blunt that the community spread of the disease has already started (in the state),” Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong told reporters after a review meeting held to take stock of the situation.

He said the state has continued to witness surge in the COVID-19 cases of not less than 60 persons tested positive everyday.

“This is because many have forgotten to follow the protocols by the government strictly. Therefore, we would like to remind again all the citizens of the state to kindly adhere to the SOPs and protocols issued from time to time especially the three simple and important things to do ie wearing masks, social distancing and washing or sanitizing your hands as many times as possible,” Tynsong said.

Asked, the deputy chief minister also admitted that it is difficult to conduct the contact tracing if the community spread is there.

“We have also discussed this issue related to contact tracing of positive cases and we have asked the health department to work out the modalities but frankly speaking, when community spread is there, it is difficult to conduct the contact tracing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Alexander Laloo Hek informed that of the 108 new cases, 43 were detected from East Khasi Hills district, that include 36 civilians and 7 armed forces/paramilitary forces (AF/PF) personnel, 27 from Ri Bhoi district, 24 from West Garo Hills, 6 from West Jaintia Hills district, 4 from East Jaintia Hills district, 2 from North Garo Hills district and 1 from South West Khasi Hills.

He said one 59-year-old Ritha G Momin from MES quarter, Shillong also died due to COVID-19 at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital on Thursday.

On the other hand, Hek informed that seventy-five more patients have recovered today taking the total recoveries in the state to 1,468.

The state has so recorded a total of 2,734 positive cases, of which 1,252 are active and 14 have died due to the viral infection.

In all, East Khasi Hills has the higest number of active cases in the state with 842 cases, followed by West Garo Hills with 140 cases, 91 in Ri Bhoi, 83 in East Garo Hills, 31 in West Khasi Hills, 25 in East Jaintia Hills, 22 in South Garo Hills and 6 in North Garo Hills.

As of Friday, a total of 95,457 samples have been tested, of which 91,989 were found to be negative while test results of 734 are awaited. There are 33,333 entrants from outside of the state.