GANGTOK, July 18 - Sikkim has reported 32 new COVID-19 cases, while one patient was cured and discharged from hospital.
According to a health bulletin issued by Director General-cum-Secretary, Health, Dr Pempa T Bhutia today, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the State has touched 254, including 166 active cases.
Out of 433 RT-PCR tests performed on July 16, 29 samples tested positive, while five persons, who went through rapid antigen tests at Rangpo, were also found to be positive.
Of the five cases, two are security guards of a cash van that fills up ATMs. Both of them were sent back to Siliguri.
The remaining three were admitted to the isolation ward of the STNM Hospital. As the two persons (cash van staff) migrated, the total cases reported in the State now stand at 32.
Of the 29 COVID-19 cases detected through RT-PCR tests, six are workers from the GREF camp at Rongli and 15 were their family members. One positive case was from the STNM Hospital�s Flu Clinic, while the remaining seven are from the SSB camp at Yuksom.
The DG-cum-Secretary said that he, along with a team of senior officials, visited Rhenock, Rongli and adjoining areas to assess the situation and finalise isolation facilities to lodge asymptomatic positive persons.
The girls� hostel of the Rhenock Senior Secondary School has been identified and approved of as a quarantine facility for asymptomatic positive cases, if the need arises.
The team visited the Community Health Centre at Rhenock and interacted with the health workers, police personnel and panchayat members.
The team also visited the Reshi check post to monitor the movement of vehicles and people.
Meanwhile, the head office of the Agriculture and Horticulture Department here will remain closed till July 25 since one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19.
