Serosurveillance in four districts from November 30
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 13 2020: With the COVID-19 graph ascending continuously, the State Government has decided to launch COVID-19 serosurveillance in four selected districts (two in the hills and two in the valley) from November 30 .

Speaking to media persons at a weekly media briefing on COVID-19 at the Directorate of Health Services, Lamphelpat today, Principal Secretary (Health) V Vumlunmang said that Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Imphal West and Kakching have been selected for the serosurveillance which would be kick-started from November 30 .

Incidentally, some other States have already launched serosurveillance at selected areas in order to identify the modes of transmission and break the chain of transmission (of COVID-19) among the general population.

District Surveillance Officer Dr N Somorjit said that the districts which have recorded highest and lowest number of COVID-19 infection have been selected for serosurveillance.

1380 samples each would be collected from the two valley districts and 920 each from the two hill districts.

The total number of samples to be collected in the course of the serosurveillance is 4600 .

The hill-valley ratio regarding the total number of samples to be collected is 60:40, Dr Somorjit said.

V Vumlunmang informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given its consent to targeted testing in the Assembly segments which went to by-polls recently.

Health Services Deputy Director Dr Meena Seram said that 'sentinel survey' as well as 'selective active sur-veillance' would be carried out in the Assembly segments which went to by-polls.

Dr Meena said that they have been working to test at least 10 per cent of the local populace where more than 200 people gathered during election meetings and where such meetings were held twice.

Further, the Government has been working to test polling agents as well as ASHA workers who were assigned duties to take up COVID care measures at polling stations, Dr Meena said.

Health Director Dr K Rajo informed that necessary data has been uploaded so that health workers of the State are covered in the first phase of the Central Government's COVID-19 vaccination programme which is likely to be launched from January next year.

Of all the health workers working at Government health care facilities, 95 per cent would be covered during the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination.

90 per cent of health care workers working at private health care facilities would also be covered in the same phase.

All necessary preparations for the vaccination programme are almost complete.

Moreover 126 cold chain points have also been arranged for storing COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Rajo said.

Vumlunmang claimed that the Government has started providing pulse oxymeters to COVID-19 patients under home isolation.

So far, 613 pulse oxymeters have been distributed to different districts.

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