The state on Tuesday breached the 5% safe threshold on Covid test positivity rate set by the World Health Organisation and reported 116 fresh cases.
TFM Report
Even as electioneering has heated up in Manipur with the declaration of poll schedule, the state has shown a steady upward trend in the daily Covid-19 cases. The state on Tuesday breached 5% safe threshold on Covid test positivity rate set by the World Health Organisation and reported 116 fresh cases.
According to the state government’s Covid-19 common control room, In the last twenty-four hour, 99 persons (63M, 36F) from general population and 17 personnel from Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) were confirmed as new COVID-I9 positive cases. All necessary medical precautionary measures like containment and contact tracing are in place.
As per district wise details, the highest number of positive cases was reported from Imphal West with 39 infections and followed by Imphal East (25) and and Churachandpur (21). The rest were reported from Thoubal (4), Bishnuper (2) Kakching (3) Tamengkong (1) Tengnoupal (1) Kangpokpi (3), Noney (1), Ukhrul (1), Senapati (5) and Chandel (1). Kamjong and Pherzawl are two districts where no infection has bveen detected in tests conducted on 12 and seven samples repectively.
In the last 24 hours, the State Level Covid 19 Deaths Audit Committee has reported one Covid-19 death taking the toll to 2012. The deceased had co-morbidities and had one dose of Covid vaccine, it added.
The number of active cases is 539 (General Population-465 and Central Security Personnel-74) The recovery rate is 97.98.%. As on Tuesday, 10,10,506 persons got both the doses and 590 got precautionary doses.
The Election Commission of India has banned road shows, pad-yatra, cycle/bike/vehicle rally and procession, physical rally of political parties or probable candidates or any other group related to election till January 15, 2022 in view of the rising number of COVID cases in the country and concern for the Omicron variant. The Commission said it will subsequently review the situation and issue further instructions accordingly.
The election commission said physical rallies during the campaign period as and when permitted after the decision of the Commission shall be conducted subject to adherence to extant COVID-19 guidelines. The maximum limit of persons allowed for Indoor and outdoor rally/meeting shall be as per existing direction of respective SDMAs.
However, since the day the election commission had announced the poll schedule and restricted election-related gatherings, Covid cases are steadily on the rise. The crest of the third wave is likely to overlap with peaking of the election campaign.
As per ECI announcement, Manipur assembly elections will conducted on two phases. First phase voting is scheduled for February 27 and the second phase March 3. Last date for filing nomination for phase-I is February 8 and for phase-II February 11. Scrutiny will be held on February 9 and February 14 for phase-I and phase-II respectively. Counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Meanwhile, experts have predicted the peak of the third wave between February 1 and 15. According to a preliminary analysis by IIT Madras, India’s R-naught value which indicates the spread of COVID-19 was recorded at 4 this week, suggesting a very high infection transmission rate. Dr Jayant Jha, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, IIT Madras, said that as per their estimate, the peak in the current wave is expected to come between February 1-15 and it is expected to be sharper than earlier peaks.
If their prediction turns out to be correct, Manipur will go to polls at the peak of covid-19 third wave.