With 50 new COVID cases Arunachal tally rises to 790; people recovered 285, died 3

ITANAGAR: Altogether 50 more persons, including nine Army jawans and six police personnel, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Arunachal Pradesh, taking the State's tally to 790 on Tuesday. Of these cases, 502 are active while 285 people have recovered and three patients have died, said State Surveillance Officer, Dr L Jampa.

A total of 34 fresh cases were reported in the Capital Complex region, 10 in the border district of Tawang, five in Lower Subansiri and one in West Siang. Among those infected in Tawang district situated along the India-China border, are nine Army jawans. Six police personnel from Naharlagun Police Station are among the 34 new patients in the Capital Complex region. The four new patients from Lower Subansiri district and one from West Siang are returnees from other States.

All barring six new patients are asymptomatic and they were shifted to Covid care centres.

Meanwhile, three more persons from Lower Subansiri district recovered from COVID-19 on Monday and were advised 14-day home quarantine after their release from hospitals, the official said.

The Capital Complex region comprising Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nirjuli and Banderdewa areas has registered the highest number of 306 cases in the State, followed by Changlang (33), Namsai (30), East Siang (24), Papum Pare (22), Lower Subansiri (16), Lower Siang (14) and Leparada and Tawang (10 each).

The Health Department has received around 1.5 lakh antigen test kits, of which 78,000 have been distributed among various districts, the official said.

"Most of the rapid diagnostic kits will be used in the Capital Complex region," he said, adding sero-surveillance of ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test is also being conducted in the region.

The coronavirus recovery rate in the state stands at 35 per cent, Dr Jampa said.

"There is a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the Capital Complex region. But the good news is that most of them are asymptomatic," he said.

Dismissing reports of community transmission of COVID-19 in the Capital Complex, Dr Jampa said, "There is a still a very thin line to be crossed for community transmission".

A complete lockdown has been imposed in the region till August 3.

A total of 40,477 samples have been tested in the State so far, he said.

Arunachal Pradesh witnessed a surge in COVID-19 cases since July 1, with 599 cases being reported in the last 21 days.

The State had remained coronavirus-free till May 23. It witnessed a spurt in COVID-19 cases after residents started returning from other parts of the country.

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