Meghalaya: 26 more tested COVID-19 positive, tally rises to 352

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 17, 2020

The state is witnessing a rapid increase in coronavirus cases as 26 more persons including 14 Border Security Force (BSF) troopers have tested positive for the pandemic on Friday.

With this, the total number of active cases has gone up to 352.

Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War said 19 new cases are from East Khasi Hills (14 BSF and 5 civilians) and seven from Ri Bhoi (2 Byrnihat and 5 Baridua).

Among the 352, three frontline health workers posted at the entry checkpoint in Byrnihat under Ri Bhoi have contracted the COVID-19.

Dr War said one of the health workers had also appeared for the walk-in-interview for the post of data entry operator (DEO) held at DC’s office, Nongpoh on July 11.

“In view of this, over 300 candidates have been told to go for home quarantine,” he informed.

Stating that situation is not good in the state, the DHS said, “We expect to get more positive cases from Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. Therefore, we urge the people not to venture out of their homes unless it is necessary.”

He informed that the movement of BSF personnel into the state has been stopped as cases continue to rise in the BSF camp at Umpling, which has been declared as containment area.

236 of 1,800 BSF troopers including one female have been tested positive for COVID-19. “We have suggested that the troopers should quarantine in Guwahati before entering the state,” he said.

The DHS also said that the health department has issued behavior change advisory to create awareness among the citizens to prevent from COVID-19 infection and to treat patients at home.

So far 25,981 samples have been sent for testing out of which 25,178 samples have tested negative, while outcome of 400 were awaited.

The state has so far registered 403 COVID-19 cases that include 352 active cases, two deaths and 49 recovered from the viral infection.

The active cases include 307 in East Khasi Hills (236 BSF, 14 armed forces including 10 from Assam Regimental Centre, 2 from Air Force and 2 from Assam Rifles besides 52 others), 31 in Ri Bhoi, 8 in West Garo Hills, 2 in East Jaintia Hills, 2 in South Garo Hills, 1 in East Garo Hills and 1 in North Garo Hills.

Meanwhile, a total of 22,329 people have returned to the state from different parts of the country.