He appealed to the public to stay indoors during the ten-day total curfew and exuded confidence that the chain of transmission might be able to break within this period.
TFM Report
Directorate of Health Services, Manipur director Dr K Rajo on Saturday assured that there is no need to worry if the people adhere to COVID Appropriate Behaviour with discipline and inoculated on time while attributing the rapid rise in new cases and deaths to the “nature of the virus” — Delta variant and increase in the number of tests.
Dr Rajo was speaking during a media briefing held at the directorate, Lamphelpat, Imphal on Saturday, a day before ten-day total curfew.
Despite the complaints about the poor management of home isolation, Dr Rajo claimed that everything was running smoothly. Testing capacity has been increased and the segregation of patients — home isolation, CCCs, hospitals — are being conducted as per the guidelines, he claimed.
‘Total curfew to give authorities a chance to effectively trace every individual’
Replying to a TFM query, Dr Rajo said that during the ten-day total curfew starting Sunday, testing and tracing will be strengthened. He contended that it would provide the authorities a chance to effectively trace every individual as everyone would be at home.
He also claimed that the house-to-house testing could also be conducted effectively during the period. This will also provide a chance to strengthen the cooperation between different district administrations, private and public hospitals, amongst others.
He appealed to the public to stay indoors for ten days and exuded confidence that the chain of transmission might be able to break within this period.
‘No one can sell self-testing kits’
Dr Rajo acknowledged the problem of prevalent sale of illegal self-testing kits in different parts of the state, first reported by TFM.
Read TFM report here: https://thefrontiermanipur.com/exclusive-tfm-investigation-overpriced-standard-q-ag-being-sold-illegally-in-manipur-as-covid-19-self-test-kit/
He said that there is a standing order by the Government of Manipur on the matter. No one can sell self-testing kits for COVID-19 without the approval of the state government, he reminded.
Dr Rajo also raised the problems of monitoring by the authorities if someone is tested positive and hides it. Don’t blame us, when untoward incidents occur, he said.
“Instead of blaming us on the shortcomings of home isolation, please suggest measures to strengthen it,” he appealed.
One succumbed to Covid 13 days after getting second dose
As per a study by the IDSP, Dr Rajo informed that out of 776 deaths during April, May and June, 492 cases were tracked. Out of this, 410 deaths were individuals who had not administered any vaccine.
As many as 28 individuals who died had received the first dose, 14 days before testing positive. 19 were tested positive within 14 days of getting the first dose, he informed.
IDSP, Manipur state surveillance officer Dr Somorjit Ningombam added one individual who had been inoculated with both doses died in the study. But the person died after 13 days of getting the second dose, he added.
Dr Rajo further informed that for 2021, as of July 16, 24 individuals have died due to post COVID complications. 119 individuals, who were positive, died for other reasons.
During the period a total of 995 died, out of which 296 died within 24 hours of hospitalisation; 89 within 48 hours; and 64 died within 72 hours of hospitalisation.
Out of 995 deaths, 619 are with comorbidities and 376 died are without comorbidities. In terms of age, maximum deaths occurred between 61 and 75 years with 315 deaths; followed by 46-60 years with 293; 76-90 years with 167 and 31-45 with 155 deaths.
Central team for strengthening every area
In a reply to a TFM query, Dr Rajo informed that the central team that visited the state recently to assess the COVID situation had recommended strengthening every area of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The central team even recommended renewing the press briefing by the directorate and JNIMS and RIMS hospital also, he added.
Dr Rajo further informed that the central team also recommended releasing the funds for districts at the earliest and to pay the salary on time; senior doctors to encourage the juniors; separate ward for post COVID treatment; increasing testing capacity; separate facilities for children in view of the impending third wave, amongst others.