Covid-19 is here to stay, says Nagaland’s Health department

38 samples tested for Assembly session returned Covid-positive

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Feb. 13 (EMN): The number of fresh Covid-19 cases in the state may have dwindled of late but the department of Health and Family Welfare has warned that the disease is here to stay, citing dozens of positive cases detected during tests on asymptomatic persons.

According to Health department’s weekly bulletin, 38 samples out of the total 839 personnel tested for the ongoing 7th session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly returned Covid-positive, with a positivity rate of 4.5%.

“This again reaffirms that Covid-19 is here to stay and every citizen should exercise abundant precaution by following covid-19 appropriate behaviour especially when there are high risk people involved. The only safe route back to the normal lives is through vaccines and Covid-19 appropriate behavior,” read the update.

As many as 50 Covid-19 cases (excluding 7 cases on Saturday) were detected in the past week ending February 12. Out of these cases, 49 were traced contacts and self-test, and one from armed forces or security, informed the Health department.

A total of 34,906 contacts have been traced by surveillance teams across all districts in the state so far.

‘Among the traced contacts, the most affected age group is 21-30 years at 26%, followed by 31-40 years at 25%. Among them, 60% are males,’ stated the update.

‘Positivity rate among household contacts 29% continue to remain followed by government employees at 24% and students at 19%. The positivity rate among symptomatic/ pre-op screening/Self-test/ travel purposes coming to Flu clinics continue to remain high at 16% with a 1% increase in the past one week, pointing towards undetected cases in the population,’ it added.

However, there have been no Covid deaths in the state for four consecutive weeks now. Out of the total 78 deaths recorded in the state so far, 59% are below 60 years and most common affected age groups are 40-49 and 30-39 years, according to the update.