Surveillance on as Omicron patient flouted SOP
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 28 2021: In what could be a classic case of Covid-19 patients not following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) formulated by experts to contain the spread of the pandemic, the 48-year male resident in Patsoi assembly constituency, who returned from Tanzania and became the first Omicron case in the northeast, reportedly flouted the home isolation guidelines and visited different places, friends and institutions before completion of the mandatory self-quarantining period for those who returned or entered the state/country from at-risk countries.

The man's apparent ignorance or defiance to the safety protocols is not only creating fears among the masses after report of his irresponsible acts went viral on the social media platforms but also giving the medical fraternity a harrowing time in tracing his contacts.

Consequently, District Surveillance Team (DST), Imphal West comprising DSO Dr M Vivekson; contact tracing in-charge Dr H Wanglensana; DNO testing & tracing Dr L Inaocha and DNO admission Dr N Haraba on Monday conducted active surveillance at the residences of the state's first Omicron positive patient and two others who have been found positive during contact tracing in one of the localities under Patsoi AC.

As per the surveillance report, the team interacted with local club members, wife of the patient and neighbours, identified new containment area and provided awareness to the ASHA, CHO of HWC Khamnam Bazar, local club members and locals.

Earlier, physical contact tracing of the positive patient was carried out during which 16 family members were identified.

All 16 family members underwent RTPCR test on December 22 with three of them found positive for Covid-19 on December 24.All negative family members were instructed 14 days in home quarantine, it added.

The report mentioned that the Omicron positive patient had went out for repairing a cycle in a workshop at Sagolband Salam Leikai on December 21 .

On that day, he also visited a paan shop at Tera Yengkhom Leirak for purchase of packaged drinking water bottle along with meeting a neighbour at his residence.

Three workers of the cycle work-shop, paan shop owner and his neighbour have been identified for testing and have been instructed to undergo home quarantine for 14 days, it stated.

The report further said that physical contact tracing was also done on two Covid-19 positive cases including the Omicron patient's daughter and a relative who is also his neighbour.

The contact tracing found out that his daughter had attended classes in two tuition centres located at Kwakeithel Konjeng Leikai along with physical classes at her school in Dewlahland oh December 21 .

In all, 82 students who had attended tuitions with her were identified for testing and instructed home quarantine for 14 days along with sending of a notification to DSO, Imphal East for contact tracing and testing of her contacts in the school, it conveyed.

The report also stated that the Covid-19 positive person had attended a marriage ceremony at Tera Yengkhom Leirak on December 15, a birthday celebration in Chingmeirong on December 17 and had met local friends at his residence on December 18.In connection with the man's frequent movement in defiance of the existing guidelines to isolate self at home, local club members have been instructed to identify the attendees of the said marriage ceremony, a cross notification has also been sent to DSO Imphal East for contact tracing and testing in case of Chingmeirong, while three people who had met the positive person have been identified for testing and instructed for 14 days home quarantine, it said.

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