Dimapur, Kohima in Covid situational level 2, says Nagaland Health department

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 22 (EMN): In the wake of increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalisations and high positivity rate in Dimapur and Kohima, the Health department has placed the two districts under ‘situational level 2’ and advised to take all effort to curb super spreader events.

The state reported 582 new cases last week ending January 21, with Dimapur accounting for 461 of these infections, Kohima 96, and Peren 22.

“Dimapur, Kohima and Peren reported more than 10% weekly sample positivity rate. High sample positivity rate signifies large undetected cases in the population,” read the department’s weekly bulletin.

The state’s weekly sample positivity rate was 10.6%, compared to 10% in the previous week (520 cases), while two deaths were reported in Dimapur. Hospitalisation also increased to 22 – 14 in Dimapur and eight in Kohima – while the number was only seven in the previous week.

It informed that “67% of cases were in the category of ‘self-test/ random tests’ among those reporting with symptoms, testing for the purpose of travelling etc. Symptomatics are strongly encouraged to isolate and get tested”.

“Among the symptomatic cases in 2022, 6% have been classified under severe category. The severe cases were 23% in 2020 and 27% in 2021. However, caution must be exercised on interpreting clinical severity as hospitalisations and deaths follow only weeks after increase in cases,” it added.

The Health department went on to encourage the people with Covid symptoms to take test, get vaccinated and follow all safety measures including wearing mask (preferably a N95/ triple layer mask/ double mask in public places) and avoid crowded places.

It also informed that 14.41 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered across the state including 38,461 teenagers between 15-18 years of age.