111 more tests positive for COVID-19, tally at 1,272

 Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War said 47, including 45 civilians and 2 armed forces and paramilitary forces (AF/PF) were detected from East Khasi Hills district, 32 in East Garo Hills district, 23 in West Garo Hills district, 3 each in East Jaintia Hills district and North Garo Hills district, 2 in Ri Bhoi district and 1 in West Khasi Hills district.

He said the civilians, tested positive in East Khasi Hills include 43 from high risk areas, 1 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) case and 1 OPD patient at Bethany hospital while the cases in East Garo Hills include 31 from Rongjeng random testing and 1 from Nangapa random testing.

He said the cases in West Garo Hills include 19 Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and 4 from the Phulbari cluster, 3 are high risk contacts in North Garo Hills, 2 are high risk contacts and 1 returnee in East Jaintia hills, a police official of Malangkona police outpost in West Khasi Hills and 1 AF/PF personnel and 1 high risk contact in Ri Bhoi.

Asked on the sudden rise of COVID-19 cases in East Garo Hills, Dr War said there seems to be violation of the protocols, mainly physical distancing in the area. “We hope that we will be able to contain the spread very soon,” he said.

The senior medical officer also informed that the health department has decided to conduct random testing in Athiabari in West Khasi Hills, where there is a lot of mingling among the crowd.

On the other hand, Dr War informed that 59 more persons have also recovered on Friday, taking the total recoveries in the state to 958.

The new recovered cases include 52 from West Garo Hills and 7 from East Khasi Hills.

Meanwhile, the state has recorded a total of 2,240 positive cases of which 1,272 are active and 10 have died due to the viral infection.

To a query, Dr War said that the death toll in the state has gone up to 10 after they have decided to count the case of a 47-year-old woman, who tested positive and died at NEIGRIHMS hospital last month, as a COVID-19 death.

East Khasi Hills has the highest number of active cases with 885 which includes 601 civilians and 284 AF/PF, followed by West Garo Hills with 158, including 98 AF/PF and 60 civilians, 71 in East Garo Hills, 70 in Ri Bhoi, 44 in West Khasi Hills, 15 in East Jaintia hills, 11 in South Garo Hills, 13 in North Garo Hills, 3 in South West Garo Hills and 2 in West Jaintia Hills.

As of Friday, a total of 84, 038 samples have been sent for testing of which 81,146 were found to be negative while test results of 652 are awaited. There are 31,634entrants from outside the state till date.

By Our Reporter