Intensive analysis of data needed to tackle situation: Central team
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2021: The Central team visiting Manipur to assess the Covid situation and challenges being faced in fighting the pandemic has expressed the need for intensive analysis of data to improve the situation.

Briefing the media on COVID-19 held this evening in the premises of the Directorate of Health Services at Lamphel, Dr L Swasticharan, Addl DDG & Director EMR has stated that the Centre is keenly observing the pandemic situation of Manipur.

The Centre has issued a checklist after carefully analysing data assessed during the first wave and in view of the additional challenges faced during the second wave and means to solve it including the opening of a post Covid clinic and preparedness for the third wave, he said.

The Central team has observed that RIMS, State Health Directorate and JNIMS have been working diligently and strictly complying with the checklist, he said.

Intensive analysis of data needed to tackle situation: Central team

He admitted that Manipur is not the only State which has witnessed an unprecedented surge during the second wave owing to either alteration in the strain of the virus or increase in carelessness among people.

Swasticharan also lauded the State Government for overseeing the Covid situation through an integrated Covid control centre constituted by incorporating all stakeholders.

He maintained that analysis of data generated every day at 6.30 is very crucial in studying the situation and infection rate and accordingly act.

It will be impossible to get a clear picture of the situation if there are flaws in data collection specially during the second wave and as such improvising data collection is the need of the hour, he continued.

The State Government needs to step up contact tracing and testing and enhancing monitoring of the patients on home isolation, he said and recommended the State Government to review the monitoring of patients on home isolation and study whether they are getting necessary medical advice.

The situation can be greatly enhanced if the State Government strictly adheres to guidelines as mentioned in the "Comprehensive guidelines for management of Covid both in adults and children", he said.

He also stressed on the need to carefully study the indication of how a mildly ill patient becomes moderately ill then to severe before succumbing to it.

If deaths are reported in a huge figure after 10 to 15 days, a committee has to analyse it scientifically.

In this situation, it is a little early to predict whether a 3rd wave of the COVID-19 will hit the State or not, said Dr L Swasticharan and prayed that the 3rd wave never comes.

Saying that the only means available at hand to defeat the pandemic is through vaccination, the doctor contended that mortality rate of those who have been vaccinated is quite low.

A recommendation based on the findings of the survey will be sent to both the Centre and the State Government, the doctor continued.

Health Director Dr K Rajo also spoke about the preparations taken up and facilities available for Covid treatment in the State.