Shillong, April 20: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday urged elderly citizens of the State to refrain from going out as far as possible, even as results of 113 samples sent for COVID-19 are awaited.

Meghalaya has recorded ten active COVID-19 positive cases in less than a week.

Two are domestic helpers and eight of them are family members of the first patient, Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang, who died on April 15 in less than 48 hours of infecting the contagious flu.

“838 samples tested for COVID-19 in the state so far, 714 yielded negative results and results of 113 were awaited,” Sangma said during his regular briefing on Monday evening.

He added: “Ten active positive patients were quarantined and stable as of now.”

Urging elderly citizens to refrain from going out as far as possible, the Chief Minister said, “We have seen throughout the world that the virus affects the elderly more. Therefore, I would urge our elderly, our senior citizens to refrain from going out to crowded places. They should keep themselves safe because this virus is something that we have seen throughout the world affects the elderly more.”

Observing that lots of children have been coming out and playing during the lockdown and therefore norms of social distancing were not being followed, he urged the parents to monitor and control such activities.

On body management protocol, the Chief Minister said, “We have prepared the body management protocol. It has already been circulated to the DCs for necessary intervention at their level.”

Informing that government has also roped in medical professionals on board to give medical advice to the people in different languages, Sangma said, “Notifications and information regarding COVID-19 and different government programmes will be issued in different languages, especially Khasi, Garo and Hindi.”

Stating that the government was “very aware” that some of the ambulances were not in good condition, he said, that’s the reason why it was decided to procure 25 new ambulances with money from the CM’s Relief Fund.”