SHILLONG, May 9 - Meghalaya reported a new COVID-19 case today with a person employed at the residence of the first COVID-19 patient testing positive for the disease.
�Unfortunately, we have another positive case in Shillong. It is a person working in the residence of the first COVID-19 patient,� Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said.
Significantly, the person concerned had tested negative earlier, and is still asymptomatic. The Meghalaya Health Department had conducted new tests of all the primary contacts of the first COVID-19 patient as a precautionary measure. The first COVID-19 patient, a doctor, had already died.
There are 181 primary or high-risk contacts of the first COVID-19 patient. These contacts were tested earlier and 11 of them had tested positive. All, except one, have been discharged after testing negative later.
�As a precaution, the Health Department has been re-testing all the primary contacts and in the process, we found this positive case. The person concerned is safe and healthy, and is showing no symptoms,� the Chief Minister added.
With this case, the number of active COVID-19 patients in the State has gone up to two. All the COVID-19 cases have been reported from the East Khasi Hills district, which continues to remain in the Orange Zone. The other ten districts of the State have remained COVID-19-free so far.
Till date 2,287 samples have been sent for tests and 2,178 have tested negative. The results of 96 test samples are awaited, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said.
The total number of stranded residents who returned from other North Eastern States stood at 2,623 till Saturday afternoon, he added. In an appeal, Tynsong asked those who have visited the GMCH or the B Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati since April 23, to report to the Government.
�Anyone who has visited these two places from April 23 this year should call 108 and register. The Government will take care of them,� the Deputy Chief Minister added.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Government has further relaxed the ongoing lockdown restrictions and allowed automobile and stationery shops to reopen in the State capital, apart from electrical goods, hardware and liquor shops. However, shops at Iewduh (Bara Bazaar) and Police Bazaar will remain closed.
On the other hand, all shops in the rural areas, which are in the Green Zone, will reopen from Monday. Fifty per cent of the available public and private transport vehicles have been allowed to ply in the Green Zones of the State on a rotational basis.
