The Meghalaya health department has counted the death of the positive patient, who passed away on Wednesday, as COVID19 death.

The positive patient, who fell inside his bathroom, was declared brought dead in the hospital.

With this, the death toll climbed up to nine in Meghalaya while 75 new positive cases were detected and 25 patients have recovered from the viral infections so far.

With 75 new cases, the number of active cases rose to 1,222 and the number of persons who have recovered so far is 899.

So far, Meghalaya has recorded a total of 2,130 COVID19 cases.

Director of health service (MI), Dr Aman War said among the 75 new positive cases, 29 cases were reported in East Khasi Hills district (4 cases of influenza like illness, 25 high risk contacts from Khamakhya Compound, Nongthymmai, Mawlai Nongkwar, Jhalupara, GS Road, Lower Mawprem, Mawbah, Laimer, Malki, Anjalee, Nongkseh Madan, Oakland, Lum Mawrie).

In East Garo Hills district, there are 27 cases (all random sampling from Rongjeng and Songsak), and 15 cases in West Garo Hills district (11 armed force/paramilitary personnel, and four civilians).

South Garo Hills district and North Garo Hills district reported one new case each while South West Garo Hills district reported two cases.

Out of 1,222 active cases, East Khasi Hills district has 847 cases (283 armed forces/Paramilitary and 564 civilians).

West Khasi Hills district has 43 cases, Ri-Bhoi district 68 cases ( 6 armed force/paramilitary personnel, and 62 civilians) and West Garo Hills district 187 cases (114 armed force/paramilitary personnel and 73 civilians).

West Jaiñtia Hills has 2 cases, East Jaiñtia Hills 12 cases, South West Garo Hills – 3 cases, South Garo Hills district – 11 cases (all armed force/paramilitary personnel), East Garo Hills district – 39 cases, and North Garo Hills district has 10 cases.

On the new COVID-19 death case, Dr War informed that the passing away of the COVID19 patient, who fell inside the bathroom in his house on Wednesday, has been counted as dead due to COVID19.

The 70-year-old, Rajendra Shah, was brought dead to Shillong Civil Hospital on Wednesday evening, and he was the resident of 29 Cantonment Anjalee.

“The person was mentally unstable. He fell inside his bathroom and was brought to Shillong Civil Hospital at around 3:30 pm on Wednesday. The doctors declared he was brought dead to the hospital,” Dr. Aman War said.

On Wednesday, the deceased was not counted as COVID19 death case, pending a decision of the medical team.

“After a thorough consultation, this particular case was counted as a death case due to COVID-19.

“It was also decided that from now on, any COVID19 positive patient who died, no matter what they died of, will be counted as COVID19 death,” the DHS said.

On July 28, a 47-year old woman who tested positive for COVID19 had also died at NEIGRIHMS due to kidney infection, but it was not counted as COVID19 death case.

The DHS informed that a decision on this case would be also taken soon, by declaring that the patient had died due to COVID19.

Asked about the accuracy of the tests, especially the results of random sampling/testing, the DHS said that any test cannot be stated as accurate.

“RT-PCR is the common standard test for COVID19 and in case of doubts (regarding the tests like antigen and others), we go for the RT-PCR test,” the DHS stated.

He also informed that anybody going for COVID-19 test on their own, they have to pay.