Guwahati: 4 persons who have been identified as "high risk contacts" of a COVID-19 positive patient have tested positive in Meghalaya. With the detection of these fresh cases, the number of COVID-19 active cases in Meghalaya has risen to 22. A single casualty was reported as far back as April 14 last, when the state's first patient, a prominent doctor, passes away due to COVID related complications.
Sharing this development, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma wrote on Twitter, "4 persons who were high-risk contacts of a COVID-19 patient who is presently in Assam have tested positive for the same in Ri Bhoi District."
Meanwhile, due to the steady and alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, the state government on Friday imposed a 48-hour curfew in the areas from Byrnihat to Khanapara, beginning at 9 pm on Friday.
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong yesterday said that he has given directions to the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to issue the order and ensure that people do not come out of their houses during this curfew. He further informed that random testings will be conducted in these volatile areas due to the dramatic rise in the number of COVID-19 cases.
Al Hek, the health minister of Meghalaya told The Sentinel Digital that the persons were connected with a person who has been treated for COVID-19 in Assam. "One person went for COVID-19 treatment in Guwahati. However, the Government tracking and tracing are underway and during the contact tracing process, we were able to track the virus to these four persons who are in Meghalaya's Ri Bhoi."
Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 tally has touched 6,48,315 with the biggest single-day increase of 22,771 cases, the latest data from the Union Health Ministry shows. The country also witnessed 442 deaths during the period, taking the total number of death count to 18,655. The number of recoveries stands at 3,94,227. The recovery rate has improved to 60.80 percent.