SHILLONG: The number of COVID-19 positive cases continued to grow on Saturday with 17 more detected while there were 12 recoveries.
DHS (MI) Dr Aman War said that of the 17 new cases, 12 were reported in East Khasi Hills, two in North Garo Hills and three in West Garo Hills.
Out of the 12 cases in East Khasi Hills, five were reported from different localities in and around Shillong while seven are staff of RP Chest Hospital.
War said that immediate contact tracing was done for the five cases. He said that the five had come in contact with a patient who came from outside.
He said the process of tracing contacts of the seven staff of RP Chest Hospital was on adding that the affected were working in the COVID section and the department would find out how they contracted the virus.
The three new cases detected in West Garo Hills are from BSF while in North Garo Hills a returnee and a health worker tested positive. With this, the number of active cases in the state now stands at 594, including 453 in East Khasi Hills ( BSF-142, Armed Forces- 66 and others -245).
On the other hand, 12 people recovered on Saturday including four in East Khasi Hills, seven in Ri Bhoi and one in West Jaintia Hills taking the number of recoveries in the state to 423.
Meanwhile, 40,700 samples have been sent for testing out of which 39,294 have tested negative and results of 383 samples are awaited.
So far, 26,286 returnees have entered the state.