Fresh Covid-19 cases, deaths decline in Nagaland; vaccination reduces ICU admission by 94%

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, June 12 (EMN): The number of fresh Covid-19 cases and casualties has decreased in Nagaland, which is under lockdown since May 14, according to Health department’s weekly bulletin.

The state recorded 1079 new Covid cases (excluding Saturday’s report) in the past week ending June 11, showing a decline for three weeks in a row. A total of 8,398 samples were tested over this period with positivity rate of 13%, the update informed.

In terms of casualties, 29 deaths were reported this week, which is the lowest recorded in the last five weeks.

However, it expressed concern over 44% of deaths happening within two days of admission in a hospital, signifying very late arrival with critical symptoms.

Mentioning that 25 deaths in the past week were under home isolation, it said “strict monitoring of symptoms under home isolation and immediately going to hospital” is necessary on first signs of difficulty in breathing (SPO2 less than 94%), increasing high fever and severe cough; mental confusion etc.

The update also informed that a study carried by “Christian Medical College, Vellore, among health care workers and submitted to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and research has found very high effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing severe disease. 93.4% of Healthcare workers had received the Covishield vaccine”.

The study also revealed that Covishield and Covaxin vaccine reduces ICU admission by 94%.

Protective effect by the two vaccines stands at: preventing infection- 65%; preventing hospitalisation- 77%; reducing need for oxygen- 92%; and reducing ICU admission- 94%, according to the study.

Meanwhile, a total of 3,35,555 doses of vaccine have been administered across the state over 5,250 sessions so far, out of which 47,897 doses were in the past week.