Meghalaya on August 16 recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases, its highest single-day spike yet, taking its total active case tally to 693, while 79 patients have recovered from the viral flu as on August 16 afternoon.
Meghalaya has so far recorded a total of 1374 COVID-19 cases out of which 693 are active, six deceased and 675 recovered.
With the spurt of COVID-19 cases, Director of Health Services (MI), Aman War said that several of the fresh cases do not have any travel or contact history, while reiterating the government’s appeal to people not to unnecessarily venture outside their homes.
“We stress on individualizing training and behaviour change. You need to follow protocols wherever you are,” he said
The senior medical official further informed that the Health and Family Welfare department would set up screening points at Police Bazar, Motphran, Iewduh in Shillong and other districts of the state for random testing.
On the rising COVID-19 curves in West Garo Hills district, War said: “Altogether, we have detected 26 cases from Tikrikilla area and nine more cases were detected as on August 16 and all of them are under quarantine. We were informed that some of the residents from Tikrikilla had visited Assam during the Eid.”
Out of the new 82 cases detected, War said 20 were from East Khasi Hills district which includes five Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, one armed forces and one Meghalaya police personnel, besides 12 other civilians in Shillong, who include high risk contacts of positive patients and a returnee from Punjab.
Fourteen new cases were reported from Ri-Bhoi district and 48 from West Garo Hills district, out of which 39 are BSF troopers and nine civilians, he further informed.
“Out of 79 COVID-19 patients who recovered as on August 16 till 2 pm, 75 are from East Khasi Hills district, of which 21 are BSF troopers, three Armed Forces personnel and 51 civilians; three civilians from Ri-Bhoi district and one from West Jaintia Hills district,” War informed.
East Khasi Hills district, the worst-affected by Novel Coronavirus alone accounts 383 cases, including 242 civilians, 71 BSF troopers, 70 Army and Assam Rifles.
West Garo Hills district, which is in the western part of Meghalaya, recorded 183 cases, while 95 cases were reported from Ri-Bhoi district so far.
In other districts, North Garo Hills has eight cases, followed by East and West Jaintia Hills with five cases each, besides three cases each in West Khasi Hills and South West Garo Hills.
South Garo Hills district bordering Bangladesh has two cases, while South West Khasi Hills has one case.
