December key to controlling pandemic in Nagaland — Health department

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Dec. 12 (EMN): Reasoning that Covid-19 cases from the community are always associated with social events and gatherings, Nagaland Heath department has once again advised cautious celebrations, especially in December.

In its weekly Covid bulletin, the department asserted that December festivities will be vital to controlling the pandemic in the state.

“The high positivity rate, especially in Dimapur and Kohima, could mean many undetected cases roaming unaware in the society. The only way to curb this transmission is to strictly stick to all personal safety measures and avoid social gatherings and events.

“The organisers of social events, sports events or any gatherings should take responsibility of the danger such activities pose to the society. Transmission from such events will manifest only days to weeks later when the infection reaches the high-risk groups in the form of severe cases or deaths,” it stated.

Sample positivity rate continues to remain high at 10% signifying undetected cases in the community, the department informed.

“Diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney diseases are the most commonly associated co-morbidities among deaths. The most affected age group among the traced contacts is 21-40-year age group who could be inadvertently spreading the virus to the higher risk groups. This is evident by the constant increase in positivity among the 60 plus age group (6% of traced contacts).

Worrisome spike

“Household (29%) and workplaces (24%) are the most common places of infection. In most cases, office goers have brought the infection home. There is also an increase in positivity among church contacts and bank staff. The data of high household contacts, office goers, prison contacts and the recent spread among bank employees clearly points toward ‘living room/closed space spread’ and is a reason why Covid-19 is increasing,” it stated.

Also, the department informed that positivity in Flu clinics continue to increase which is worrisome as these people do not fall under contact tracing. Flu clinic positivity among traced contacts has increased to 12%, it added.

In the past week, the department recorded 329 new cases and three deaths. Out of the 329 cases, Kohima accounted for 217 and Dimapur, 71.

It also informed that 64% of deaths are below 60 years of age and 18% of deaths do not have any known co-morbidity/disease.

Further, 67% of all cases were from traced contacts within the community in the past week.

Vaccine update

The Health department also provided an update on the Covid-19 vaccine.

“As per WHO Act for Covid-19, 52 vaccine candidates are in the clinical phase. A 91-year-old grandmother from UK became the first person to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. The US FDA has also approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in the USA.

“In India, the NEGVAC (National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19) will oversee all activities. The MoHFW has released guideline for Covid-19 vaccine rollout in a phased manner. Around one crore health workers in the country will be vaccinated in the first phase followed by other frontline workers and high-risk groups. In the state, trainings for the vaccinators will be completed very soon,” it informed.