Meghalaya reports 39 new COVID-19 cases, tally rises to 1,467

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 18, 2020

Thirty-nine more persons have tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the total active cases in the state to 776.

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War said twenty-seven, including eleven Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, 9 civilians and 7 armed forces personnel were detected from East Khasi Hills district.

He said of the nine civilians, four cases were detected from the random sampling conducted at Rilbong, Shillong, three are returnees from Assam, one is a contact of a patient, who had tested positive, at Meghalaya Institute of Mental Health and Neurological Science (MIMHANS), and a police contact at Mawiong MLP quarters.

Dr War informed that the other cases include three are high risk contacts of a Mawsmai case in Ri Bhoi district near the border with Assam, a returnee from Dubai in East Jaintia Hills, a returnee from Silchar in South Garo Hills, two BSF jawans, one  returnee from Assam and four random sampling at Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills.

Asked, he said the total cases detected from Rilbong area has increased to 44. It may be mentioned here that certain areas in Rilbong have been declared as containment areas by the distrct authorities to contain the spread of the virus.

The senior medical official also said six more patients including 3 BSF and one civilian in East Khasi Hills, have recovered from the infection taking the total recoveries in the state to 685.

Of the 776 active cases in the state, East Khasi Hills is with the highest number of cases with 446 that include 289 civilians, 80 BSF troopers, and 77 armed forces personnel, followed by West Garo Hills with 189 cases and 103 in Ri Bhoi.

In other districts, North Garo Hills has eight cases, six in East Jaintia Hills, 4 in West Jaintia Hills, 4 in South West Garo Hills, 3 in West Khasi Hills, 2 in South Garo Hills and 1 in South West Khasi Hills.

As of Tuesday, a total of 44,234 samples have been sent for testing, of which 42,330 were found to be negative while test results of 447 are awaited. There are 28,793 entrants from outside the state till date.

Meanwhile, the state has recorded a total of 1,467 COVID-19 positive cases including six deaths.