Shillong: The surge in Covid-19 cases in Meghalaya continued with 146 fresh cases of infection reported on Friday with the active caseload mounting up to 1238, while 38 more recoveries from the viral disease took the number of recovered cases up to 14, 236, even as entry of tourists to the State from outside have been halted for 14 days from Friday.
Director Health Services (MI), Dr. Aman War said the new COVID-19 cases detected on Friday included 115 in East Khasi Hills district , 20 in Ri-Bhoi district, four each in West Garo Hills district and West Jaintia Hills district and three in East Jaintia Hills district.
With 894 active COVID-19 cases and 131 deaths due to the viral infection, the East Khasi Hills, that includes state capital Shillong is the most affected, followed by West Jaintia Hills district with 132 active cases and Ri-Bhoi district with 117 active cases as on date.
Meghalaya has so far registered 15, 631 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 157 fatalities.
Meanwhile, till Friday evening, 2, 02, 952 doses of Covishield were administered across the State, with 1, 51, 741 having received the first dose and 51, 211 having fully inoculated with the second dose of the vaccine against Covid-19, Dr. War said.
On the other hand, in order to safeguard the public at large from an “uncontrollable surge of the COVID-19 pandemic”, the District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills District, Isawanda Laloo, in an order issued on Friday under section 144 Cr. P.C. read together with Regulation 3 of the Meghalaya Epidemic Diseases, COVID–19 Regulations, 2020 has prohibited any gathering of people and entry of visitors within the premises of the Golflink in Shillong on every Sunday, till further orders.
“The order was issued in view of the rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in East Khasi Hills District, wherein a large number of cases have been detected amongst the returnees, high risk contacts and others within Shillong Agglomeration area,” Laloo stated.
The order was also issued because Golflink is a popular spot for tourists and visitors in Shillong City, and the District Magistrate informed that reports have been received about overcrowding and non-maintaining of social distancing and mask-wearing at the place, especially on weekends and since the COVID-19 virus is known to spread especially in places where large number of people congregate.
“Non-compliance to SOPs at all times will be met with penalties as per law,” Laloo cautioned.
