Meghalaya report 44 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 1,418

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 17, 2020

Forty-four more persons, mostly civilians, have tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, taking the total of active cases in the state to 733.

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War said thirty-eight of the forty cases detected in East Khasi Hills district are from Rilbong in the city during a random sampling in the area, one is a high risk contact and one is a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan.

He said three cases were also detected at Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills district and one case who is an inter-state driver at East Jaintia Hills district.

Dr War said most of the people, who tested positive for the virus in Rilbong, are daily wage earners working in Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) and Iewduh areas adding that the health department is yet to know the sources as to from where they had contracted the infection.

“All have been taken to the corona care centre and contact tracing is being carried out,” he said while informing that micro containment areas have also been declared in Rilbong to prevent further spread of the virus.

“Since most of them are working in PB and Iewduh area, we have decided to set up the screening points – one near OB Mall and one near the Anjalee cinema hall – while in Motphran area, they are looking for a place, to carry out a random test of people,” he said.

Asked whether community transmission has started in Shillong, the senior medical officer however said, “In Rilbong, the spread is only within a colony and that is why we have contained the colony. If we get positive cases, who are without any travel history or any contacts, other than this colony, we will have to take a call on the matter.”

Dr War reiterated that the situation is not good as he appealed to the citizens to refrain from venturing out of their homes unnecessarily. “Our big concern is that the transmission rate of the disease is very high,” he said.  

He further informed that four more patients have recovered today of which 2 are from East Khasi Hills, 1 from West Jaintia Hills and 1 from East Jaintia Hills adding that the total number of recovered cases has increased up to 679.

With 423 cases, including 281 civilians, 72 BSF troopers and 70 armed forces personnel, East Khasi Hills is the worst affected district in the state, followed by West Garo Hills with 184 cases and 100 in Ri Bhoi.

In other districts, North Garo Hills has eight cases, five in East Jaintia Hills, four in West Jaintia Hills, three each in West Khasi Hills and South West Garo Hills, two in South Garo Hills and one in South West Khasi Hills. East Garo Hills alone has zero cases.

As of Monday, a total of 43,872 samples have been sent for testing of which 42,137 were found to be negative while test results of 315 are awaited. There are 28,380 entrants from outside the state till date.

Meanwhile, the state has recorded a total of 1,418 COVID-19 cases which include 733 active cases and six deaths.