Delta variant behind rapid Covid-19 spread in Manipur, says CM Biren

Of the 20 samples sent for testing to know the variant of the virus at a laboratory in Hyderabad, 18 samples came out to be of the Delta variant. The state reported 603 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and 12 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 62,946 and 1033 total deaths.

TFM Desk

The Delta variant of COVID-19, first detected in India, has been detected in Manipur. Of the 20 samples sent for testing to know the variant of the virus at a laboratory in Hyderabad, 18 samples came out to be of the Delta variant.

Informing about the new development, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said that the variant had been the major cause of rapid spread. He said that home isolation patients would be provided additional medicines useful in treatment of this variant. Apart from this, home isolation patients would also be provided 20 triple-layer masks each, hand sanitizer with extra medicines from today, he added.

CM Biren urged the public to be more careful and follow COVID Appropriate Behaviours and Standard Operating Procedures issued by the government from time to time to prevent infection from the new variant. He stressed the need to be more responsible on the part of the public and even to not go to public spaces until he or she got vaccinated. He also added that the state government had been taking up all the necessary measures to curb the spread of the pandemic and also sought support of all the stakeholders in its fight against it.

Confirmed cases of Delta variant of Covid-19 found in Manipur!

During an examination of 20 samples from Manipur in a lab in Hyderabad, 18 were found to be of Delta variant. More samples are being examined now.

Requesting everyone to follow SoP laid down by the Govt. https://t.co/7LN7VOy9iA
— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) June 18, 2021

The Delta variation has been classified as “variant of concern” by the Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention. The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) is believed to be 1.6 times more transmissible as compared to Alpha (B.1.1.7). It spreads fast in a household setting and is an important factor in wider community spread.

Meanwhile, the state reported 603 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and 12 deaths, taking the total number of infections to 62,946 and 1033 total deaths.

The daily update by the COVID-19 Common Control Room also informed that the IDSP, Manipur has reported 18 cases of Delta variant of COVID-19 in the state.

“Due epidemiological measures are already taken up. Further the report too emphasizes the importance of adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour to prevent spread to others,” it added.

The positive cases from the general population are — 187 persons from Imphal West, 119 from Imphal East, 78 from Churachandpur, 58 from Kakching, 44 from Bishnupur, 43 from Thoubal, 27 from Ukhrul, 17 from Tamenglong, 11 from Chandel, eight from Jiribam, two each from Senapati, Noney and Kangpokpi, and one each from Tengnoupal and Kamjong.

In the last 24 hours ending 5 pm Friday, the State Level Covid 19 Deaths Audit Committee reported 12 Covid 19 deaths. Seven persons from Imphal West, two from Imphal East, and one each from Kakching, Bishnupur and Churachandpur died at RIMS (4), JNIMS (4), Shija Hospital (2), Babina (1) and DH Churachandpur (1).

On Friday, 447 persons were discharged, out of which 324 are from home isolation, 15 are from RIMS (13) and JNIMS (2) and the rest 108 are from other COVID care facilities. The recovery rate stands at 83.67 percent.

Out of 9,246 active cases in the state, 2,831 persons are in home isolation.

Oxygen Status

According to the Health Department, in the last 24 hours, a total of 1665 D-type Oxygen cylinders and 414 B- type Oxygen cylinders were made available to different health facilities of Manipur. In CCCs, 61B filled cylinders were also made available.