Covid-19 patients, travellers endangering public by flouting SOP, says Nagaland Health department

Dimapur, May 10 (EMN): The department of Health and Family Welfare, government of Nagaland, has expressed anguish over some travellers and Covid-positive patients flouting the guidelines at a crucial time when frontline and healthcare workers are stretched to the maximum in the fight against the pandemic.

An update from the Health department stated that some travellers were found providing wrong personal information like phone number, age and address at entry points and to the contact tracing teams, which is adversely affecting the surveillance activities to check the transmission of Covid-19.

“It is also observed some people who are already tested positive are found to be running from one laboratory to another for a ‘retest/confirmation’ endangering the community in the process. A positive by any Covid-19 Test (RT-PCR, TrueNat and RAT) is a 100% confirmed positive anywhere in the world,” read the press release.

“However, there can be false negative tests depending on the sensitivity of the test and the timing of sampling. Such persons are therefore advised to undergo home isolation or get admitted in private hospital or government health institution depending upon his/her medical condition,” it added.

The department has also requested the village councils and urban local bodies to continue ensure strict adherence to quarantine norms under the supervision of DTF and to report immediately to the local administrative officers/DTF for taking suitable action for any breach of quarantine norms by any such persons.

It warned that any person “who is tested positive of COVID-19 or is found to be a close contact not co-operating with the surveillance teams or not providing information or providing wrong information or found withholding information for the purpose of contact tracing or refusal for Covid-19 testing by any person who have been traced as close contact or found indulging in any practices endangering the community, shall be liable for punishment as per the provision of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 and other relevant provision of the Laws”.