Without VRDL JNIMS test results, recoveries surpass fresh cases in Manipur. The state reports 330 fresh cases, the lowest single day spike since May 2 and 14 deaths in the past 24 hours. The state positivity rate slumped to 12.95 per cent from Sunday’s 20.12 per cent.
TFM Report
Ever since the second wave of Covid-19 has made inroads into the state, people wait with bated breath daily for Covid-19 update issued by the directorate of health services, government of Manipur. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw massive drop in fresh cases reported in the last 24 hours on Monday.
Fear and anxiety-gripped people found some solace when they found in the covid-19 update the number of recovered patients (455) surpassing that of the fresh cases (330) after a long time since the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic hit the state. The state positivity rate also slumped to 12.95 per cent from 20.12 per cent on Sunday.
However, their relief did not last long. On careful observation of the latest IDSP Manipur update, the number of test results received from VRDL JNIMS on Monday was found to be “zero”.
When many experts opined testing is still inadequate in Manipur witnessed high test positivity rates in the last few weeks, ‘zero’ test results received from VRDL JNIMS on Monday left the people worried. They wondered whether VRDL JNIMS was facing a test kit shortage.
VRDL JNIMS along with VRDL RIMS conduct majority of COVID testing in Imphal East and Imphal West respectively, apart from some private Institutes. Between May 10 and 16, VRDL JNIMS conducted 2,429 samples, at an average of 347 per day. Out of these 596 samples were found COVID positive, at an average of 85 cases per day.
When TFM contacted the IDSP Manipur enquiring about the missing testing results from JNIMS, they said that they only compile the results they received from the districts.
On contacting the office of the chief medical officer of Imphal East, they said that they heard “unconfirmed” reports that some of the staff of the VRDL JNIMS were tested covid positive. The JNIMS authority couldn’t be reached for comments.
Apart from vaccination, one of the best and efficient methods of curbing the spread of the deadly virus according to experts is early detection and isolation. And the only way to detect positive cases is through testing, especially in areas where the infection is high.
Imphal East and Imphal West have been the most affected districts in the second wave of the pandemic in the state. Majority of the new cases detected in the state and the number of deaths have been reported from these two districts.
Of the 330 fresh cases reported on Monday, 127 were from Imphal West and 85 from Imphal East. The other positive cases from the general population were from Bishnupur (30), Thoubal (28), Kakching (21), Churachandpur (8), Senapati (7), Ukhrul (7), Tamenglong (6), Chandel (3), Noney (3), Jiribam (1), and Kamjong (1).
Of the 14 deaths reported on Monday, nine were from Imphal West and the remaining five from Imphal East. According to the Health Department, the 14 persons were aged 65 yrs (male, Imphal West), 56 yrs (male, Imphal East), 82 yrs (male, Imphal West), 60 yrs (female. Imphal East), 42 yrs (male, Imphal West), 74 yrs (male, Imphal West), 70 yrs (male, Imphal West), 76 yrs (female, Imphal West), 63 yrs (female, Imphal West), 63 yrs (female, Imphal West), 47 yrs (male, Imphal West), 66 yrs (male, Imphal East), 91 yrs (male, Imphal East) and 70 yrs (male, Imphal East) and they expired at Shija Hospital (3), RIMS (7) and JNIMS (4) hospital respectively.
A total of 455 persons from CAPF (7), Home Isolation (322), RIMS (23), JNIMS (3), RD Wing (6), BB (11), NSU (24), SHRI (20), Babina Speciality Hospital (6), CCC Lamboikhongnangkhong (10), Jivan Hospital (7), Bishnupur (14), Tamenglong (1), and Senapati (1) were discharged in the last 24 hours ending 5 pm Monday. The recovery rate now stands at 82.70 %.
Active cases in the state now stand at 6,338, of which 4,112 patients are in home isolation. The total infection in the state has now reached 40,059 and 592 total deaths.
As per the Health Department, in the last 24 hours, a total of 1488 D type Oxygen Cylinders and 502 B-type Oxygen cylinders were made available to different health institutions and health facilities of the state.