Meghalaya: Six, including 3 cancer patients died of COVID-19, death toll rises to 47

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 29, 2020

At least six, including three cancer patients have died due to COVID-19 during the past two days, taking the death toll in the state to 47 on Tuesday.

The state has also detected 101 new positive cases taking the active cases to 1,476 even as 72 persons have recovered from the viral infection bringing the total recoveries to 3,940.

Director of Health Services (MI), Dr Aman War said 55-year-old Dil Bahadur Thapa, who was tested COVID-19 positive on being admitted at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) hospital on September 13.

“He however passed away on September 28, due to cardio respiratory arrest with COVID-19 pneumonia with cerebrovascular accident (stroke) with hypertension. He was a resident of Ladrymbai, East Jaintia Hills district,” he said.

He said the three cancer patients include a 60-year-old retired government employee, Firsborn Marbaniang from Shillong, Knesman Nongsiej, and Phomty Phawa (51) while Sanjay Singh Muktam (36) was a chronic kidney disease stage-V. All are patients of Shillong civil hospital.

He said while Marbaniang was tested COVID-19 positive on being admitted at the COVID isolation ward of the Shillong civil hospital on September 24 and he passed away on September 27, while Nongsiej, who initially undergone treatment at Guwahati, Assam and later taken to Shillong civil hospital, also succumbed to COVID-19 on the same day.  

51-year-old Phomty Phawa was admitted at the Shillong civil hospital on September 25. “She was tested positive for coronavirus and shifted to COVID isolation ward of the hospital. Despite all efforts, she succumbed to her illness on September 28,” Dr War said adding Ricky Keshi Suba (74), a resident of Upper Mawprem, was admitted at NEIGRIHMS hospital after he was referred from Bethany hospital and passed away on September 24.

War said 101 more persons were tested positive for the viral infection during the past 24 hours, taking the number of active cases up to 1,476 as on date.

Of the 101 new cases, 54 persons were tested positive for COVID-19 in East Khasi Hills district, 37 from West Garo Hills district, 4 from West Jaintia Hills district, 2 from Ri Bhoi district, 2 from South West Garo Hills district, 1 from East Jaintia Hills district and 1 from East Garo Hills district.

Out of the 72 recovered COVID-19 patients, Dr War  said, 54, including 52 civilians and 2 Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces, were from East Khasi Hills district alone – one of the worst hit districts out of the 11 in the State.

Furthermore, he informed that 9 more patients have recovered in West Garo Hills district, 4 in East Jaintia Hills district, 3 in East Garo Hills district and two in Ri Bhoi district.

He said 3,940 COVID-19 patients have been discharged as on date.

“Till date, swab samples of 1,48, 298 persons have been sent for testing of which 1,42,835 were found to be negative,” Dr War said.

The state has detected a total of 5,463 COVID-19 out of which 1,476 are active cases, 3,940 recovered and 47 deaths.

There are 42,170 entrants from outside the state.