Govt to bear cost: Dr Rajo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 20 2020: The Government will bear the costs of the precautionary measures taken in cremation of persons who died of COVID-19, said Health Services Director Dr K Rajo today.

It may be noted here that there have been reports that the district administration takes upto Rs 20,000 from the family of deceased for the medical, containment measures taken up during cremation.

Briefing media persons at the Lamphelpat Medical Directorate, Rajo said the decision for the Government to bear the costs of the containment measures taken up during cremation was taken during a meeting of the Health Department and higher officials of the Government.

Rajo further said that the Government will also reimburse the costs of cremation to families who had earlier produced the money for the containment measures.

He stated that the COVID-19 mortality rate has decreased in the past few days and the State till yesterday has conducted 3,93,807 COVID-19 tests.

Of these, 22548 tested positive for coronavirus and 231 have died of the disease (Before the report of Covid death and total cases as on November 20 was issued) .

The State has 2886 active COVID-19 cases.

The total number of COVID-19 persons under home isolation was 5354 yesterday and 4545 of them have recovered.

About 809 active cases are under home isolation, he added.

The State has adequate testing kits, PPEs and other equipment.

35 COVED-19 Care centres are functional and adequate beds are available, he said.

Rajo further informed that about Rs 96 lakh for UNACCO COVED-19 Care Centre and Rs 2 crore for Lamboikhongnangkhong CCC are yet to be released.

Recently, 3,000 oximetres out of the State's total 4,000 were distributed to health care centres concerned at districts.

Efforts are on to engage ASHA workers for taking oximetry of COVED-19 patients under home isolation.

Oximetry is a procedure for measuring the concentration of oxygen in the blood.

REMS and JNEMS may soon increase ECU beds, he said.

District Surveillance Officer, Dr M Vivek said targeted COVED-19 testing has already started at Wangoi and Lilong Assembly Constituencies where by-elections were held recently.

Targeted testing will also be conducted from tomorrow at Wangjing-Tentha Assembly Constituency.

He stated that the health authorities are facing problems with the targeted testing.

Due to harvesting works and misinformation, there has been low turnout during targeted testing.

Most of the people are engaged in harvesting works and they fear that they would have to spend time at Covid Care Centres if they test positive, he said.

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