Five health workers, including 2 docs, 3 nurses test positive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2020: Keeping up with the daily two digit increase in the number of positive cases in the State, a total of 26 samples returned positive today from the testing units at RIMS and JNIMS.

According to a late evening report from RIMS, 10 positive cases were reported.

The positive results came after 1053 samples were tested, said RIMS sources and added that the cases include 3 from Noney, 6 from Imphal West and one from Kakching.

Another 16 samples returned positive at JNIMS late in the evening today, after 1500 samples were tested today.

Details such as district break up of the positive cases are not yet available, till the time this report was filed.

Stating that there is great pressure to get the results of all the samples as soon as possible, a source from JNIMS said that the testing unit there is on work for 14 to 16 hours daily.

Meanwhile, two doctors and a nurse of District Hospital, Bishnupur who were on duty at the Isolation Ward and two nurses on duty at the Grace Bible College, Churachandpur staff quarantine centre tested positive for COVID-19, stated spokesperson and Additional Director Health Dr Khoirom Sashikumar Mangang.

(Briefly reported in the previous issue of TSE).

The five health workers who tested positive however have no history of travel outside the State, he maintained.

He further said there is no report of community transmission in the State.

The total number of positive cases of health workers is six and five are active cases, he added.

A nurse from Churachandpur was the first health worker in the State to test positive for the virus, and she has since recovered.

An investigation has been launched to find out the cause of infection of the two doctors and a nurse, said Chief Medical Officer Bishnupur while speaking to the media today.

CMO L Gojendra said the three have been shifted to RIMS for treatment.

Their samples were collected on June 18 and they received their test report last night at around 9.After finding that the report had returned positive for COVID-19, samples of their family members have been collected for necessary test.

Altogether four doctors and five nurses have been posted at the quarantine centre since June 8, he added.

Clarifying on the delay in sample collection and issue of test report, he said RIMS and JNIMS are hard pressed facility to do it faster.

According to a press release issued today, the number of positive cases reported from RIMS and JNIMS are 18 and 39 respectively.

This include 41 males and 16 females.

The figure has already been reported in the previous issue of The Sangai Express, but without the districtwise breakup.

Out of the 57 cases reported, Bishnupur had three cases, Chandel 21, Churachandpur eight, Imphal East one, Kakching 10, Kamjong three, Kangpokpi two, Tamenglong four, Thoubal one and Senapati four.

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