Shillong, Jul 6: An infant from Arunachal Pradesh who was tested positive for COVID-19 at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) on Monday passed away within a few hours.

The death of the infant is the second COVID-19 death in Meghalaya after first death was recorded on April 15 after a renowned physician Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang succumbed to the disease.

“The infant was referred to NEIGRIHMS hospital from Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Arunachal Pradesh for treatment of a different ailment. On their arrival in the early hours on Monday morning, the swab samples of the baby and his parents and the driver were collected and sent for test. The baby boy tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival and later died in the evening,” Hek said.

Hek informed that parents of the infant and the driver however tested negative for COVID-19.

Meghalaya has so far registered a total of 89 COVID-19 positive cases, which include 44 active cases, two deaths, and 43 recovery cases.