OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: With the detection of 27 more COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, Arunachal Pradesh's COVID-19 cases rose to 387. Meanwhile, one more coronavirus fatality pushed the State's toll to three, a senior Health official said. Of the total cases, while 239 are active, 145 patients have recovered. A total of 32,691 samples have been tested so far.
The 27 new cases include 10 ITBP personnel. The Capital Complex has so far registered 114 cases — the highest in the State, followed by Changlang (36), West Kameng and Namsai (15 each) and Lower Subansiri (12). While 22 of the 27 fresh cases have been reported in the Capital Complex region where a lockdown is currently on, two each are registered in East Kameng and Namsai districts and one in Changlang. The East Kameng district has reported COVID-19 cases for the first time, informed State Surveillance Officer Dr L Jampa.
The State registered its third COVID-19 fatality after a 32-year-old businessman from Naharlagun died at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) on Monday night. The COVID-19 patient was admitted to the hospital on July 9 with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and diabetes, the official said.
Meanwhile mourning the death, Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) president Tarh Nachung said that the prominent businessman had played a proactive role in ensuring the supply of essential commodities in the State during the lockdown period.
The 10 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, who are among the 22 new patients in the Capital Complex region, had recently returned from Assam; and were placed under institutional quarantine.
The Capital Complex region comprises Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas. A total of eight new cases were reported from various sectors of Naharlagun. Two Health workers - one each from TRIHMS and the office of the Directorate of Health Services — have also tested positive for the infection. The new patients from Changlang, Namsai and East Kameng districts are returnees from other States. All — barring four new patients — are asymptomatic; and they have been admitted to COVID Care Centres.
Dr Jampa further said that seven more persons have recovered from the disease. They have been advised 14-day home quarantine and self-monitoring upon their release from hospitals, the official said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has appealed to the people to "bring behavioural changes" and follow the guidelines laid down in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"The most effective intervention in our fight against coronavirus will be through personal behaviour changes — wearing mask always, maintaining social distance and washing hands regularly. These are universal measures, but effective and require constant reminder on us," Khandu tweeted.