Home ›› 17 Apr 2020 ›› World Biz
The first case surfaced on Monday evening when a prominent doctor, John L Sailo Ryntathiang, was found positive. The news of the 69-year-old founder of Shillong-based Bethany Hospitals surprised many as the doctor didn’t have any recent travel history.
Till Sunday, Meghalaya was a rare state with no Covid-19 cases, however, in the next four days, the state recorded nine cases, including one death. All the cases were from one family.
The first case surfaced on Monday evening when a prominent doctor, John L Sailo Ryntathiang, was found positive.
It was initially surmised that he could have got infected from his son-in-law, a pilot with Air India who tested negative.
Ryntathiang passed away in the early hours of Wednesday. Later in the day, six others, family members and helpers of the doctor, were found positive.
Later, on Thursday night, two more Covid-19 positive cases were reported in the state—both patients were family members of the first patient.
According to a release issued by the Sampath Kumar, commissioner and secretary (health) on Thursday night, 50 medical staff members of the Bethany Hospital have been identified as “high-risk contacts” and tests would be conducted on them.
The Meghalaya government is yet to zero in on the person who is responsible for infecting the first patient.
Source: Hindustan Times
