SHILLONG: Meghalaya on Monday recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases taking the State's tally of active ones to 277.
State Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek informed that of the 277 new cases, 236 are from East Khasi Hills which include 182 BSF personnel, two from the IAF, and 52 civilians; 20 from Ri-Bhoi; nine from West Garo Hills; two each from East Jaintia Hills and South Garo Hills; besides one each from East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills. So far, 46 patients have recovered from the infection.
The Medical Superintendent of North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Dr Topno informed that in the Institute there are 13 COVID-19 patients, which include one nurse who was on duty in the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery ICU ward. "The nurse did not work in the COVID area," the NEIGRIHMS Medical Superintendent added.
He added that the nurse who stays in Demseiñiong locality most probably could have picked up the virus from outside.
Giving a breakup of the COVID-19 cases in NEIGRIHMS, Dr Topno said that two cases are of patients who came from outside the State — one from Kolkata and the other from North Tripura. "They had come for different ailments; and were detected for the virus," he said.
The Medical Superintendent also informed that while six other cases were from contact tracing of a patient from the BSF who had contracted the virus on July 9, the other five cases including that of the nurse were detected during screening.