118 new cases detected, IDSP to study COVID status
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09 2020: With the total number of people infected by COVID-19 through local transmission reaching 836, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has been entrusted to study the COVID-19 status in Manipur and see if there is community transmission in the State.

Till last month, majority of the COVID-19 positive cases in the State were people who came back from outside the State.

However, since the beginning of the current month, people with no travel history started emerging as a major group infected by the virus, sources said.

118 new cases detected, IDSP to study COVID status

So far, 836 people with no history of travelling outside the State have been tested positive for the contagion.

When this reporter contacted some key officials of IDSP to enquire about the changing mode of virus transmission in the State, they said that the details should be obtained from the COVID-19 Common Control Room.

But when the control room was contacted, they said that the surveillance was carried out by IDSP and it was their duty.

According to a press release issued by Additional Director (Health) and COVID-19 Common Control Room spokesman Dr Khoirom Sasheekumar Mangang, 118 people including 28 CAPF personnel were tested positive for COVID-19 at RIMS, JNIMS, Babina Diagnostic Centre, Imphal West RAT, DH Jiribam, DH Ukhrul, Raj Medicity, Imphal East RAT, Thoubal RAT, Shija Hospital and DH Tamenglong.

Of the 118 people tested positive during the last 24 hours, 10 belong to Imphal West, 28 to Imphal East, 13 to Thoubal, one to Ukhrul, five to Senapati, nine to Chandel, 12 to Churachandpur, 11 to Kangpokpi and one to Jiribam.

Except for two from Imphal East, 11 from Kangpokpi, three from Senapati, one from Churachandpur, one from Imphal West and one from Jiribam, the remaining 71 have no history of travelling outside the State.

Meanwhile 117 COVID-19 patients have been discharged during the last 24 hours as they have recovered.

They were treated at CRPF (42), RIMS (2), JNIMS (2), CCC Meitram (33), CCC Senapati (3), CCC Churachandpur (8), CCC Thoubal (23) and RD Wing (4) .

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases reached 3753 (general public 2930, Central security personnel 823) on Sunday and these include 1698 active cases (general public 1010, Central security personnel 688) and 2044 recovered cases (general public 1909, Central security personnel 135) .

Noting that the use of chlorine dioxide releasing plastic cord device 'Virus Shut Out' made in foreign countries has been increasing among the public, the COVID-19 Common Control Room spokesman clarified that chlorine dioxide in aqueous solution is used in disinfection of drinking water but its virus destroying capacity in spray or gas form has not yet been established.

The State Health Department does not recommend its use in prevention of COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Sasheekumar added.

Following detection of COVID-19 positive cases, several areas have been declared as containment zones today.

The containment zones include areas of Kha Sanjenbam, Wangoi in Bishnupur district and Sangaiyumpham Higher Secondary School (Block-B) in Thoubal district.

Areas of Kha Sanjenbam, and Wangoi were sealed off after one resident tested COVID positive while Sangaiyumpham Higher Secondary School (Block-B) was sealed off after one inmate of the quarantine centre opened at the school tested COVID positive.

Meanwhile, in Thoubal district, containment zone tags have been removed from ITI Residential School (Lilong), Hayellabuk SSA School (Wangkhem), Tangjeng Ningthou Flower English School and Sangaiyumpham Higher Secondary School (Block-A) .

The restrictions imposed earlier were lifted after inmates at the quarantine centres tested negative for COVID-19, said an order of N Bandana, Deputy Commissioner of the district today.

On the other hand, Thoubal District Hospital will be reopened and start functioning with "minimum exposure" only for emergency services of both Casualty and Maternity Departments as usual with effect from 10 am of August 10, said a memorandum of the Medical Superintendent of the hospital.

Meanwhile, 19 security personnel have also tested positive for COVID-19 today.

The 19 personnel include an Additional SP of CID and two of his escorts.

They tested positive for COVID-19 on Rapid Antigen Testing, said sources in the Imphal West district administration.

The remaining COVID positive personnel include 12 CISF personnel (Ministerial staff) posted at the Bir Tikendrajit International Airport and four CRPF personnel (two each stationed at Lamphel and Monsangei) .

In addition one person each at Thoubal district hospital and RIMS have also tested COVID-19 positive.

Seven from Kamjong also tested positive at RIMS.