3-year old child among 59 new COVID-19 cases

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 25, 2020

A three-year-old child was among the 59 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War told reporters that the child was a contact of the positive patients, who had attended a wedding at Bihar, in Shillong.

He said another four health workers at a sub-centre in Mawlai Mawtawar were also infected after they came in contact with a positive case from North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).

As many as 20 persons from Mawpat have also contracted the infection and they are also all high risk contacts of a positive case from NEIGRIHMS.

According to Dr War, 13 returnees from Assam and Bihar were also tested positive for coronavirus. These include 3 from Pynthorumkhrah, 3 from Nongmynsong, 3 from Upper Mawprem and Mawbah, 1 from Laitumkhrah, 2 from Sawlad and Happy Valley and 1 from Oxford Laban.

He said two are from Nongrim Hills and these are the contacts of a driver, who had tested positive and had visited the DC’s office, while one from Mawlai Umjaiur is a contact of a staff nurse from NEIGRIHMS and five from Lummawri who are contacts of a GSI employee admitted at NEIGRIHMS.

Doctors & nurses are risking their lives: Govt appeals for supports

Asked, the DHS informed that 14 health workers including doctors have so far tested positive for COVID-19 that includes eight in Ri Bhoi, 4 in East Khasi Hills and 2 in West Jaintia Hills.

“It is very risky now for health workers especially those who are giving general treatment and that is why we stressed on the need for patients to wear masks while visiting the hospitals,” he said.