Another 35 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Meghalaya today, taking the total number of infections to 10,665.
With 76 recoveries also reported today, the number of total recoveries stands at 9,594, with a total of 100 fatalities and 971 active infections.
Of the new cases, 26 were recorded in East Khasi Hills, four in West Garo Hills, two each in South West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills and one in North Garo Hills.
The recoveries were divided between Ri-Bhoi (23), East Khasi Hills (19), East Jaintia Hills (12), West Jaintia Hills (10), West Garo Hills (six), East Garo Hills (three), South West Garo Hills (two) and West Khasi Hills (one).
Fourteen of the recoveries in Ri-Bhoi were from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) cluster alone.
The Health Department also informed that two cases in West Garo Hills migrated to Assam.
On November 12, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has asked Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram to increase testing on high risk groups and vulnerable population to check the spread of Covid-19.
Vardhan, during a meeting via video conferencing with seven states, including the four northeastern states, said that Meghalaya and Tripura are witnessing higher deaths (37 per cent) in the active age groups (45-60 years), which are preventable.
Vardhan has advised the states to focus on higher testing, especially in districts with higher positivity rate, mandatory Rapid Antigen Test of symptomatic negatives, focus on high risk groups and vulnerable population for SARI (severe acute respiratory illness) and ILI (influenza-like illness) surveillance which can give indication of infection, increase contact tracing of close contacts of positive cases, proper follow-up and monitoring of those in home isolation, especially the vulnerable groups.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan during the meeting asked the states to focus on three areas — the need to suppress and break the chain of transmission, keeping mortality rate to less than 1 per cent and the need for prolonged behavioural change.
