Meghalaya: 17 children lost lives in COVID-19, over 5,000 children infected

SHILLONG: As many as 17 children in Meghalaya, aged between 0 and 14 years, succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 virus since 2020, state health minister Alexander Laloo Hek has revealed recently.

As per official data, a total of 5,101 children tested positive for COVID-19. Out of these, 4,344 recovered from the virus and 17 lost their battles, a 4-year-old girl's death from East Garo Hills district being the latest incident.

The state has not recorded any cases of newborn babies being infected by the virus so far, said Hek on Wednesday.

Taking these figures into consideration, the state government has decided to set up three ‘prefab’ (prefabricated) pediatric hospitals in Shillong, Tura, and Jowai.

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The health minister urged the citizens to be extra careful keeping in mind that the third wave is likely to affect not only children but people of different age groups.

Hek informed the media that the state has written to the Central Government, seeking financial assistance to help tackle the COVID situation.

“We have been increasing the additional manpower as much as required and the lifesaving ambulances are also being looked into,” Hek added further.

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