Of 400 samples sent for genome sequencing, 390 are Delta variant
Preparations on to face 3rd wave: Dr Rajo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2021: Health Director Dr K Rajo has stated that the State is preparing to face the probable 3rd wave of COVID-19.Addressing a weekly press briefing on COVID-19 at Lamphelpat, Dr Rajo continued that rate of Covid infection and mortality is gradually declining in the State.

However, due precautions still have to be taken as COVID-19 has not been arrested completely in the State, he added.

Significantly of the 400 samples sent for genome sequencing, 390 were identified as Delta variant and the remaining 10 are variants of little/no concern .

Saying that the State is taking up measures to protect children from the viral disease, which according to many experts will be more vulnerable in the next wave, Dr Rajo added that maintenance of Covid appropriate behaviour and people getting vaccinated against the disease are imperative to avert the third wave of Covid.

He further said that a State Task Force for Covid Care with Directors of RIMS, JNIMS and representatives of IMA, UNICEF and WHO as members has been set up under the guidance of Principal Secretary (Health).

Stating that the State Technical Committee is preparing to make 93 medicines abundantly available in the State, the Health Director added that the State has identified 8 drugs including Remdesivir for procurement under Emergency Covid Response Package of the Centre.

Dr Rajo maintained that the State has started procuring masks and equipment for children and training MO and staff nurses to attend to patients at paediatric wards.

Informing that a notification has also been sent to both public and private health care facilities including RIMS and JNIMS to reserve certain beds forchildren including at ICU, Dr Rajo urged all parents to make sure their wards obey Covid appropriate behaviour as Covid vaccines for children have not been developed yet.

Dr Rajo also urged the parents to consult with the experts in case any of their children is Covid infected and admit them to Covid Care Centre or a hospital.

In the first wave, 2 children under 15 years died of COVID-19 while 4 in the same age group succumbed to the disease in the second wave, he informed.

Dr Rajo further informed that altogether 29,401 people were infected by Covid in the first wave, of which 58 were below 5 years.

Another 6,259 of the total cases were below 18 years.

At least 32,481 children under 18 years have been infected by coronavirus so far in the second wave, he added.

Saying that the State police have seized Remdesivir for illegal possession on two occasions, Dr Rajo maintained that Remdesivir can be procured from the company only and the State allocation for the drug is also limited.

He said that the Health Department has sent a sample of the seized drugs to find out its authenticity.State Immunisation Officer, Dr T Manihar also said that the police seized 100 vials of Covishield from Heijigang Super Market along Imphal Moreh road recently.

The seized Covishield were not from the Manipur share of drugs allocated by Serum Institute of India and the Centre, Manihar said and apprised that there is no case of leakage of State share of Covid vaccine.

He further said the seized drugs were sent from Delhi without maintaining a cold chain system.

State Surveillance Officer Dr N Somorjit, on the other hand, said that 400 samples sent for genome sequencing have returned.

It is said that 727 samples were sent for genome sequencing.

The press briefing was also attended by National Health Mission Director Dr N Shyamjai and representatives of UNICEF and WHO.

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