Spurt in COVID-19 infections in Shillong indicative of community spread, says Health Minister

Guwahati: Dr. Aman War, Meghalaya's Director of Health Services (MI), today hinted that the state's capital city of Shillong is likely heading towards "community spread" of the COVID-19 virus.

Dr. War said that the Garo Hills, plain belt area, and Tikrikilla are also areas of concern where health officials suspect community spread has started. "However, a definite statement will be issued as and when we complete the contact tracing," Dr. War was quoted as saying by media.

The state's health minister, Al Hek, echoing War, said that the recent spurt in cases in the state capital is indicative of a spread at the community level. "To check the spread of the contagion, our Government has been conducting random tests daily since the onset of August. For the past couple of weeks or so, we have started detecting 10-12 cases of COVID-19 in Shillong. Although we cannot say with certainty that the virus is spreading in the community, it is certainly indicative of that", Hek told The Sentinel Digital.

Dr. War's made the statement after random testing was conducted in and around Shillong as well as the Garo Hills to check for signs of a community spread of the infectious disease.

As per reports, Forty-nine more persons have tested positive for the COVID-19 in Meghalaya on Wednesday, taking the total active cases in the state to 806.

Dr. Aman War said 47 cases -- 30 civilians and 17 Border Security Force (BSF) troopers -- were detected in the East Khasi Hills district; two civilians from North Garo Hills district also tested positive for the virus, said War.

Dr. War also informed that nine more persons, including eight civilians from Ri Bhoi district and one from East Khasi Hills, have also recovered from the infection today, taking the total recoveries in the state to 694.

According to the Meghalaya Government's figures, of the 806 active cases in the state, East Khasi Hills has 492 cases that includes 318 civilians, 97 BSF, and 77 armed forces, West Garo Hills has 189 cases, Ri Bhoi has 95, North Garo Hills has 10, East Jaintia Hills has 6, West Jaintia Hills has 4, West Khasi Hills has 3, South West Garo Hills has 4, 2 in South Garo Hills and 1 in South West Khasi Hills.

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