26 new COVID-19 cases in Sikkim, tally 147
There are 66 active cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and as many as 81 patients have recovered so far, officials said.
Twenty-three people from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) camp at Rongli tested positive for the pathogen, while three others are from the quarantine facility in Karfectar in South Sikkim district, Health Secretary Pempa T Bhutia said.
All the new cases are asymptomatic. The GREF camp and nearby Rongli Bazar have been declared containment zones due to the detection of large number of COVID-19 cases, the official said.
Under the containment zone order for Rongli Bazaar in East Sikkim district, a complete ban has been imposed with immediate effect on the movement of the people till July 19, while all shops, except those selling essential commodities, shall be closed completely.
East Sikkim District Collector Raj Yadav has served a show-cause notice to the commanding officer 130 of the RCC GREF for alleged non-compliance of instructions of the state government for containment of the spread of COVID-19 at its camp.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang inaugurated the rapid antigen testing centre at the Rangpo Screening Centre.
The rapid antigen tests are an easy and faster method to detect coronavirus cases and can provide results within 30 minutes, the officials said. KDK RG HMB