Covid-19 awareness programme conducted at Raj Bhawan
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, March 05 2020: An awareness programme on Coronavirus (COVID-19) for staff of Raj Bhavan was organised at Darbar hall, Raj Bhavan, today.

The awareness programme was attended by Dr RK Manojkumar Singh, Associate Professor, Microbiology, JNIMS, Nodal Officer, VRDL, Microbiology, JNIMS, Dr Uthan Tharoijam, Sr Resident, Medicine, JNIMS and Dr L Arke, Addl Director (Public Health) & State Nodal Officer, Health Services, Manipur as resource persons.

Dr RK Manojkumar Singh speaking about Covid-19, Virology & Laboratory Diagnosis underlined the need for in-depth knowledge like viral morphology, transmission of virus, updated case definition, updated definition of contact, new travel advisory, testing centres in India, specimen collection and shipment and testing of Covid-19 at reference laboratories.

He informed that Coronavirus is a group of viruses causing diseases in mammal & birds.

In humans, the viruses cause respiratory-infections-typically mild including common cold but rarer forms like SARS & MERS can be lethal.

In cows and pigs they may cause diarrhoea, while in chickens they can cause an upper respiratory disease.

It can spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 3 feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

He further said that Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India has issued new travel advisory on February 26 advising Indians to refrain from nonessential travel to Republic of Korea, Iran and Italy.

People coming from these countries or having such travel history since February 10, 2020 may be quarantined for 14 days on arrival to India.

Besides the Apex testing laboratory of ICMR-NIV, Pune there are 13 testing VRDLs for COVID-2019 and also 19 more testing centres are in the pipeline.

Mentioning the Referral Laboratories for Manipur are ICMR-NIV, Pune (till February 5, 2020) ICMR-NICED, Kolkata (from February 6�11, 2020) and GMCH, Guwahati (from February 12).For sample collection in Manipur, IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Program) cell, Directorate of Health, Lamphelpat.

VRDL (Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory), Microbiology Department, RIMS and VRDL (Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory), Microbiology Department, JNIMS- Nodal Centre may be contacted, he added.

Dr Uthan Tharoijam, spoke on the signs and symptoms of coronavirus.

Some of the basic and necessary measures that people should follow are avoiding travel to disease outbreak area, avoiding crowded places, maintaining distance of atleast 6 feet away from anyone with symptoms, careful 60 second hand washing (soap, alcohol base hand sanitizers), avoiding touching of T-zone (eye, mouth, nose).

Health care worker- PPEs (Personal Protection Equipment).

Speaking as the resource person, Dr L Arke informed that a 24x7 control room (0385-2411668) was opened at Medical Directorate, Lamphelpat.

He also stated that screening has started at surface points of entry in the State (Behiang, Sinzawl in Churachandpur district, Moreh Gate 1, 2 & ICP in Tengnoupal, Nambisha in Kamjong, Jiri gate in Jiribam and Mao gate in Senapati) .

Out of the 12 samples sent for testing 10 have been found negative and the results of 2 are awaited.

Staff of Raj Bhavan including Special Secretary to Governor HT Gangte, Commissioner Bobby Waikhom, CRPF personnel and others attended the awareness programme.

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