1125 tested, 61 found positive in house-to-house drive
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 10 2021:
District administrations of Imphal East, Imphal West and Churachandpur coordinated with the CMOs of the districts in launching house-to-house Covid testing programmes at different localities on Saturday.
Though similar drives were carried out in other districts as well, the house-to-house tests in the three districts covered Achanbigei in Imphal East, Takyel Khongbal in Imphal West and Kangvai in Churachandpur.
During the programme, 889 people were tested in Imphal East and Imphal West districts of which 54 of them were confirmed of Covid-19 infection.
At Achanbigei, samples of 152 people of 47 households examined with 23 found positive for Covid-19.For Imphal West, 500 households were tested in three places of Takyel Khongbal, namely Thoupang Shanglen of Takyel Khongbal Ward No 1, Khumanthem Leikai community hall of Takyel Khongbal Ward No 2 and Takyel Ima Lairembi community hall.
Around 737 people were tested of which 31 of them were confirmed positive for Covid-19.In Churachandpur district, 236 people of 121 households were tested at Kangvai and seven of them were found to be vectors.
During the testing process, two members of each household were tested i.e, one who stayed mostly at home and one who normally stepped out.
Family members of those in contact with positive cases were also tested and those with positive results have been shifted to the CHICs and CCCs concerned.
Speaking in this regard, State in-charge for Management of COVID Testing Dr Meena Seram informed that lack of adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) by the general public has now led to the detection of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the state leading to further positivity rate.
As such, the house-to-house testing drive was taken up to curb the spread of the contagion.
Appealing to local clubs, community mobilisers, ASHA and Anganwadi workers to extend their cooperation in this regard, Dr Meena said that concerted effort of the government and the people will help in lowering community transmission and make the state Covid free.
The state in-charge further urged all concerned to get tested immediately on exhibition of even the mildest Covid symptoms, adding that any carelessness in this regard could be fatal.
People can get tested at fixed COVID testing sites or inform the authorities through the local MLAs, COVID Control Room, COVID Task Forces, clubs, etc., for the same, in case of any transportation issue.
A mobile testing team will be despatched for this, she added.
While terming as regrettable that contact tracing is not being prioritised, Dr Meena said that for every positive case, around 10 of primary or secondary contacts need to be tested.
However, often times only 70 percent of the contact tracing is carried out.
In addition, many do not come forward even when a mobile testing team is despatched for contact tracing.
Thus, it is important to remember that it is impossible for the government alone to curb the spread of the pandemic without the support and cooperation of the people, she remarked.
Meanwhile, TPYA Club Naoremthong Khumanthem Leikai secretary Laikangbam Dilan appreciated the house-to-house testing drive taken up by the government, while adding that number of positive cases in its jurisdiction is low to due to strict adherence of SOP.
He then informed that a decision has been taken to shift the people who tested positive on Saturday to a CCC or a CHIC, and added that further testing or vaccination programmes will be taken up in the future.
On the other hand, one of the people who underwent the test conveyed to The People's Chronicle that he appreciated the government for taking up the drive and suggested that the government should increase the limit of testing subject from 2 family members to more.
The testing programmes were monitored by Advisor to CM (Health) Dr Sapam Rajan; principal secretary (health) Vumlungmang Vualnam; Imphal West and East DCs, Imphal West SP, Health director, additional director and officials of Health and district administrations.