State puts NE on Omicron map with first case
One more fall victim to Covid to take death tally to 2002
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2021: For the first time, a positive case of the Omicron variant of SARS-COV-2 has been detected in the State.

Significantly this is also the first Omicron case in the entire North East region.

According to a press release issued by Health Director K Rajo, the man returned to Imphal from Tanzania recently.

After testing positive for Covid-19 on RT-PCR on the eighth day of arrival in India, his sample was sent to the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Takyelpat for whole genome sequencing and the sample turned out positive for the Omicron variant.

The man has been already kept in isolation in a Government hospital at Imphal.

Sources informed that the 48-year old from Imphal West, who had recently returned from Tanzania, was tested positive for COVID-19 on December 21 .

It is said that the man and all his primary contacts are currently under medical supervision.

Pointing that the Omicron variant is spreading very fast in many countries, Health Director Dr K Rajo has appealed to one and all to adhere to Covid appropriate behaviour and wear masks mandatorily.

He said that masks have been found effective against all variants of Covid-19 .

The Health Director said that the man who tested positive for Omicron reached Kolkata on December 12 and came to Imphal on December 13 .

Straight on his arrival he was put under active surveillance and his sample was tested via RT-PCR on December 20 .

On testing positive for Covid, a sample was then sent for genome sequencing at IBSD Takyelpat.

The Omicron status of the man was confirmed today, said Dr K Rajo and added that the positive person is undergoing treatment at JNIMS.

During contact tracing from December 22, three more persons were found Covid positive, Dr Rajo informed.

Their samples also have been sent for genome sequencing to the lab at IBSD, he added.

The three are presently under institutional quarantine at RD Wing.

Earlier three persons who returned from Canada were found to be negative of Omicron.

Dr Rajo further said that the Omicron variant spreads 3/4 times higher than the Delta variant but added that it is not as severe.

Urging all not to be unduly worried or be alarmed, the Health Director asked all to stick to the Covid SOP and get vaccinated when their turn comes.

Stating that adequate steps have been taken up, Dr Rajo said that RRT and testing teams have been activated and needed employees are ready to be deployed at quarantine centres.

All steps have been taken up to meet any eventualities from the Omicron variant, he added.

Meanwhile, the State reported one more Covid related death during the last 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 2002 .

As per a report of the State Level Covid-19 Deaths Audit Committee, the victim from Imphal West had taken the second dose of Covid vaccine even though he/she had co-morbidities.

Out of 781 samples tested for Covid-19 during the last 24 hours, nine were confirmed positive at RIMS (1) and other testing centres (8) which implies daily positivity rate of 1.2 per cent.

The newly infected persons are residents of Imphal East (3), Imphal West (5) and Ukhrul (1) .

The daily positivity rates of these districts are Ukhrul 3.1 per cent, Imphal East 1.9 per cent and Imphal West 1.6 per cent.

On the other hand, 12 persons who were undergoing treatment for Covid-19 have been discharged from home isolation (1), RIMS (1), JNIMS (7) and CCCs (3) as they have recovered.

The cumulative number of Covid-19 positive cases is 1,25,732 (general population 1,21,298 and Central security personnel 4,434) .

This figure includes 178 active cases (general population 177 and Central security personnel 1) and 1,23,552 recovered cases (general population 1,19,124 and Central security personnel 4,428) .

The recovery rate as on Monday is 98.27 per cent.

A total of 311 D-type oxygen cylinders and 45 B-type oxygen cylinders were made available to different health facilities of the State yesterday.

Taking into account 1026 doses administered on December 26, the cumulative number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the State has reached 22,96,560 (first dose 13,19,344 and second dose 9,77,216) .

So far, 41.74 per cent of the State's total eligible population has received both the first and second doses of Covid vaccine while 56.36 per cent has been given the first dose.

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