Five frontline workers test positive for Covid-19 in Nagaland

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 25 (EMN): Five frontline workers, including four bus drivers and a receptionist at the Covid-19 hospital (NHAK) in Kohima have been tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said on Thursday.

All the Covid-19 positive cases in Nagaland are returnees from other states until now.

The five new cases were detected while observing the positive cases (mostly returnees, informed Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Vizolie Z Suokhrie at a press conference which was also attended by State Nodal Officer of Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme, Dr. Nyanthung Kikon and Addl. Project Director, National Health Project, Dr. Atoshe Sema.

All the five positive cases are local transmission and contracted the disease through contact with the high risk and returnees, Kikon clarified, adding that the state has not yet reached the level of community transmission so far. 

The healthcare worker in Kohima, who has contracted the virus, was shifted to Covid-19 hospital and his family members (primary contacts) were kept under facility quarantine, Kikon said. The patient was said to have come into contact with positive cases for few days.

The principal director also said that containment has been declared in the PWD colony area, where the receptionist resides. He also informed that contact tracing of the person was completed and testing of the primary contacts will begin.

He went on to say that “further transmission is yet to be ascertained”.

As for the bus drivers, they are not allowed to go home in the first place. Many of them are staying in the quarantine places just like healthcare workers. So, there is no need for containment of the area, said Dr Suokhrie. He added that two of them were tested positive almost a week back.