Priest among 5 dead; highest one-day Covid count at 321
CS asks citizens to restrict movement to minimum
Shillong, May 2: A priest in East Jaintia Hills was among the five persons who died of Covid-19 in the state on Sunday. The day’s count of positive cases also crossed 300.
Fr Surendra Kumar Kanher (48) of Visitation Parish at Lumshnong was brought dead to MCH Hospital in Jowai on Saturday night. Among the deceased persons was a 29-year-old woman from Nongrim Hills in the city. Payal Agarwal was brought to Bethany Hospital on April 23 and she passed away early on Sunday morning.
There were two more deaths in the city — one patient was 41 years old and the other 62. The former, Wannalin Marwein of Nongrah, passed away in Bethany Hospital, and the latter, Nidhu Ranjan Paul of Rilbong, died in Woodland Hospital.
Ebrin Lyngdoh (63) from Khliehriat passed away in Supercare Hospital in Shillong.
The total number of active Covid-19 cases crossed 1,800-mark with the state recording 321 fresh positives, the highest so far in the second wave, on Sunday.
Of the 321 Covid-19 positive patients, 212 are from East Khasi Hills. West Garo Hills recorded the second highest day count at 41. The other districts with double-digit cases are Ri Bhoi (15), East Jaintia Hills (11), West Jaintia Hills (20) and West Khasi Hills (11).
Among the five deaths, four were reported from East Khasi Hills and one from East Jaintia Hills.
The pandemic situation in a small state like Meghalaya is turning grave as the uptrend in the number of cases continued.
The number of recoveries on Sunday was 154, including 114 in East Khasi Hills.
Taking note of the worsening situation, Chief Secretary MS Rao said all residents should restrict movement to the absolute minimum to prevent spread of the infection. Of the 321 new cases, 97 are returnees, he informed in a statement issued on Sunday.
“Hospital bed occupancy is also rising sharply. Hence, restriction is extremely important so that the health system is not overburdened… Citizens above 45 years of age should come forward and get themselves vaccinated. Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccination are the only remedies,” he added.
Crematorium closed
The Shillong Electric Crematorium will remain closed from Monday to May 5 after a technical defect cropped up in its main furnace. This was informed by the president of Greater Shillong Crematorium and Mortuary Society, JL Das.
