8 more test positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya, total active cases 36

Eight persons, including five BSF personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in Meghalaya on Monday, increasing the number of active cases to 36, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said.

The chief minister made this announcement in his social media accounts, including Twitter. "7 persons have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state. 1 from Ri-Bhoi, 6 from Shillong (5 BSF personnel and 1 returnee from Guwahati)," he said.

In an earlier post on Monday, he said that a returnee from Assam has also tested positive for coronavirus in Tura. Since the detection of the first patient in Meghalaya on April 13, 80 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the state till now.

One person has succumbed to the disease so far, and 43 others have recovered from the infection, a senior health official said. As many as 17 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 in the northeastern state.

Random testing is being conducted on persons along the National Highway in Ri-Bhoi district and at Tura to detect, contain and reduce COVID-19 cases in the state, the official said.

As of now, over 20,000 tests have been conducted on persons who returned to the state or persons who entered Meghalaya since April, he said.

(Photo credit for representation: PTI)