The report of the first sero-surveillance conducted in four districts of the state was also released on Saturday. It concluded “Overall prevalence of Seropositivity is low. We still need to impose Covid appropriate behaviours.”
TFM Report
Manipur Health Services director Dr K Rajo on Saturday informed that COVID vaccine may arrive in the state within January and all preparations to start the vaccination process is underway.
Dr Rajo was speaking to media persons at the weekly press conference on COVID-19 held at the Directorate of Health Services, Lamphelpat jointly organised by Directorate of Health Services and National Health Mission.
On the new COVID strain, Dr Rajo assured that the state is fully prepared to tackle it. He also informed that a Manipuri who returned from the United Kingdom was found positive for COVID-19, and treatment is underway. His sample has been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune to ascertain whether the person is infected with the new strain. All the 23 individuals who were in close contact with the UK returnee have been tested negative, he added.
Stating that screening at the airport has beefed up, Dr Rajo further informed that all the returnees at the airport are being tested using RT-PCR. And if any symptomatic person is found positive then he/she is being kept at Institutional Quarantine or Institution Isolation, and the asymptomatic ones can opt for home isolation, he added.
Dr Rajo also informed that OPDs will be operating normally soon. Since the fresh cases have been declining and the recovery rate being improved, the health workers will return to their normal duties from the COVID centres, he added.
Keeping in mind the ongoing winter season, Dr Rajo advised everyone to eat healthy, avoid alcohol and cigarettes, exercise and regularly conduct health check-ups.
The report of the first sero-surveillance conducted in four districts of the state was also released on Saturday. The seropositivity rate for Churachandpur was 17%; for Imphal West it was 20%; for Kakching it was 5%; and for Ukhrul it was 3%, with an overall rate of 11%.
The report concluded “Overall prevalence of Seropositivity is low. We still need to impose Covid appropriate behaviours.”
Meanwhile, a drill for vaccination against coronavirus was also conducted on Saturday in all eight Northeastern states, as part of the nationwide drill across the country, according to reports.
In Manipur, NHM state nodal officer RK Rosie said that the drill went ahead without any problem at five locations each in Imphal West and Thoubal districts.
“Besides a medical college in Imphal, the drill was conducted in district and primary health centres and a private hospital,” Rosie said.