The 20th fatality from Covid-19 in Meghalaya this month was recorded today, taking the total death toll in the state to 131. Total coronavirus cases in the state also crossed the 13,000 mark today.
The latest death was that of Basanti Das (54), of Oakland Road, Shillong. She was admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital and tested positive for Covid on December 10 and expired yesterday morning. Cause of death was tongue cancer, which had metastasized, and Covid-19 pneumonia.
The statewide fatality rate is now at 1.0071 percent. This was the 107th Covid-related death in East Khasi Hills, whose fatality rate is now 1.35 percent.
Meanwhile, there were 66 new infections recorded today and 128 recoveries.
Of the new cases 57 were in East Khasi Hills, four in West Garo Hills, two in East Jaiñtia Hills and one each in Ri-Bhoi, South Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
Two of the new infections in East Khasi Hills were health workers, while four were among armed forces/paramilitaries and eight among returnees. There were also several cases in various clusters, including five in Madanrting, four in Happy Valley, three in Laban, three in Rynjah, three in Anjalee, two in Baniun, two in Lapalang, two in Mawprem and two in Nongmynsong. In West Garo Hills one case was among armed forces/paramilitaries and two were in the Tikrikilla cluster.
The recoveries were divided between East Khasi Hills (112), West Garo Hills (11), South West Garo Hills (two), East Jaiñtia Hills (one), Ri-Bhoi (one) and West Khasi Hills (one).
In all, Meghalaya has had 13,007 Covid-19 cases, of which 690 are active, 12,186 have recovered and 131 have died from the virus. The recovery rate has increased to 93.69 percent.
The Health Department also informed that around 1,900 Covid-19 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours.