1st phase of community transmission on, say experts
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2020: The State Technical Expert Committee on COVID-19 has come to a conclusion that the State has moved to the first phase of community transmission as indicated by the high number of local transmission detected continuously during the past one week or so.

The technical expert committee held a meeting this afternoon with Health Director Dr K Rajo in the chair and the meeting came to a conclusion that the State has moved to first phase of community transmission, sources conveyed.

While around 900 people who have no history of travelling outside the State have been infected by the contagion, the mode of transmission to five/six COVID-19 positive people is still unknown.

Nonetheless, due investigation is on to find out how they got infected by the virus.

As decided by the technical expert committee, Health Department would send a proposal to the State Government to declare that there is community transmission of COVID-19 in the State.

In view of the COVID-19 death toll which has already reached 12, all the private and Government hospitals in the State should be equipped with COVID-19 testing facilities and all the patients should be tested for the virus before any diagnosis or treatment is initiated.

The hospitals should have separate wards for treatment of patients who have been tested positive for the virus.

This was another decision adopted by the technical expert committee at its meeting held today.

As decided at the meeting, no Government or private hospital would be allowed to turn away or refer patients to other hospitals even if the patients are COVID-19 positive, conveyed the sources.

Private hospitals would not charge any fee for COVID-19 test upon people belonging to BPL category.

There are two lakh rapid antigen test kits with the Health Department and two more lakhs have been ordered, said the sources.

According to a press release issued by Additional Director (Health) and COVID-19 Common Control Room spokesman Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang, 88 people including 13 CAPF personnel were found infected by the virus during the last 24 hours.

Of the 88 people who have been tested positive at RIMS, JNIMS, Babina Diagnostic Centre, Imphal West RAT, Raj Medicity and Shija Hospital, 73 have no history of travelling outside the State.

Of the 75 civilians who have been tested positive 55 belong to Imphal West, two to Thoubal, one each to Senapati, Tamenglong and Kamjong, eight to Imphal East, three to Noney 3 and four to Bishnupur.

On the other hand, 33 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from different hospitals and COVID care centres during the last 24 hours.

Test done at Thoubal district hospital and rapid antigen test done at different places of Thoubal district found 14 people positive, said the sources.

Six other people who are residents of Thoubal district including one police personnel were also tested positive at RIMS.

So far 33 police personnel belonging to Thoubal district have been infected by the virus.

In Imphal West district, 20 people were infected by the virus after rapid antigen test today.

They include two Manipur Rifles personnel, one resident of RIMS quarters and one police personnel posted at Mayang Imphal Police Reserve Line, said the sources.

The State's total tally of COVID-19 positive cases as on Tuesday is 3941 (general public 3065, Central security personnel 889) and these include 1774 active cases (general public 1055, Central security personnel 719) and 2155 recovered cases (general public 1985, Central security personnel 170) .

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