Govt working to check new Covid wave: Director
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 27 2021: Asserting that there are cases of Dengue outbreak only in some pockets of the state, health services director Dr K Rajo has said that the public have no need to worry for Dengue as the variant prevalent in the state is a very mild one.

He also said that the government is improving infrastructure in all health institutions of the government to minimise impact from another wave of Covid-19, if it happens.

Addressing a press meet at the directorate's Lamphelpat office here on Saturday, Dr Rajo while referring to recent reports of a new Covid variant detected in South Africa appealed to the public not to panic from the report as the variant is yet to reach India.

Despite this, the department is taking up all precautionary measures to detect any infections by continuing screening exercise at entry points of the state in Mao, Jiribam and Imphal airport.

Only fully vaccinated people are allowed to enter the state for now and a mandatory protocol of 14-day surveillance period has been activated.

At present, two such people who entered from foreign countries are being placed under surveillance, he said.

COSo far, the state has recorded a total of 1,25,098 confirmed positive cases till Friday.

Out of this, 1,22,458 have been recovered and 678 are active cases.

The recovery rate is 97.89 percent.

A total of 14,12,575 tests have been conducted till date.

So far, 47 people have died of Covid-19 from November 1 to 26 .

The positivity rate as well as prevalence rate has dropped significantly with Friday registering a daily positivity rate of only 1.9 per cent.

Some districts have no active cases as of Friday, he said.

Dr Rajo further informed that the 200-bed-ded Covid Hospital at Kyamgei will be inaugurated on December 10 .

The hospital has 50 ICU beds and the remaining 150 are general beds.

A 100-bedded hospital is also being constructed in Kakching district and requisite equipment are on the way for the hospital.

Recruitment of manpower for the hospitals will begin from Monday.

At the same time, the department is continuing testing, tracing, treating and vaccination services.

Efforts are being made to improve healthcare services in primary health centres and community health centres.

Bed capacities of district hospitals will be increased from 50 to 100.There are 27 oxygen plants in the state and two liquid medical oxygen plants also are functioning.

Another oxygen plant is being constructed at Kyamgei.

Under e-governance programme, 10 ICU beds in each district hospital and three ICU beds in some select CHCs are being installed, he added.

Regarding emergence of new variants of Covid-19, the health services director said that the state now has its own genome sequencing lab and routine genome sequencing activities ale being conducted.

Disturbingly, public gathering has increased manifold due to festivals and the forthcoming state assembly elections which increase the risk of transmission of the virus in the community.

He then appealed to the public to get both doses of Covid-19 vaccines as early as possible and continue the Covid appropriate behaviour like wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and washing hands.

On prevalence of dengue cases in some parts of the state, he explained that virus strength increases during winter season and the public need to exercise caution in order, to keep themselves healthy and fit.

So far, there are 158 confirmed cases of Dengue in the state.

Being a milder version of the disease, the positive cases recover very quickly in the state.

Majority of the cases are concentrated in Moreh where 91 confirmed cases have been reported till Friday and only four of them are active cases.

There are two active cases in Imphal West and one each in Bishnupur and Thoubal districts.

Dengue is spread by a mosquito species called Aedes and this species is active during daytime.

Even though the variant is mild, the public still need to take precautions to prevent mosquito bite by wearing socks, long pant and full sleeve shirt, using mosquito net while sleeping among others.

The government is also taking up fogging and larvicide spraying activities.

Official teams led by Malaria Officer are conducting household survey and testing service at home with mobile testing kits in Moreh.

The disease is under control, he said.

Stating that some media reports claiming absence of ambulance in Moreh town are creating panic among the public, he said that there is one ambulance each in Moreh Hospital and Tengnoupal district headquarters.

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