Dimapur, Oct. 29 (EMN): In view of the upcoming festive season and impending onset of winter which is likely to impose significant challenges, as well as the speculated increase and rise in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state, the government has issued ‘Covid appropriate behaviour’.
Covid appropriate behaviours:
- Greet without physical contact
- Maintain 2 meters or 6 feet physical distance
- Wear washable mask at all times
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth if your hands are unclean
- Use a tissue or handkerchief or your bend elbows while you cough or sneeze.
- Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
- Do not chew tobacco, khaini etc. or spit in public places.
- Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
- Travel only if urgent or unavoidable. Take all precautions during travel.
- Do not discriminate against anyone.
- Discourage crowd. Encourage safety.
- Do not circulate social media posts which carry unverified or negative information.
- Seek information on Covid-19 from credible sources.
- Seek professional counsellor for stress or anxiety.
- Helpline – 1800-345-0019, National toll free: 1075.
“Early testing and treatment has become the need of the hour to prevent morbidity. Late treatment of Covid-19 positive cases leads to complications and residual damage such as lung fibrosis especially amongst younger patients and patients without co-morbid conditions. Therefore, reinforcement of strict adherence to testing is very crucial and should be imposed attentively as well as special emphasis on care for senior citizens, elderly and children,” an update from DIPR stated.
Discrimination is another factor that contributes to the rise of alarming cases and also because of fear of stigma many cases are concealed without testing and increase in resistant testing which lead to transmission of cases uncontrollable situation, it added.
Negative impact of stigma and discrimination:
- It leads to resistance or low number of testing which results in late treatment for positive cases that determines complication or dead.
- Problems faced in contact tracing due to incorrect and invalid personal information given by the patient.
- Localised containment (sealing of houses) which is another preventive measure of transmission has also become an issue of social discrimination.
- Creates unnecessary psychosis and false information that prevents timely intervention to protect against Covid-19.
