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Our Correspondent
Imphal, May 14 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, has announced that Covid-19 vaccination of people belonging to the age group of 18 to 44 years would commence from May 17.
In a video message released here, the chief minister informed that the state has received 39,000 doses so far for the vaccination of this age group. He urged all those belonging to the age group to register themselves on www.cowin.gov.in or Arogya Setu app or Umang app to receive vaccination schedule on their phone.
The state has so far given anti-Covid jabs to 2,96,894 residents. Till date, 78,608 healthcare workers and frontline workers received the second dose of vaccines. The total number of healthcare workers vaccinated with the first dose of Covishield vaccine is 36,632 while 24,273 got the second dose. Similarly, 79,576 frontline workers received the first dose while 48,776 got the second dose of the vaccine.
Acknowledging the works of healthcare workers, he announced that doctors, nurses and all other personnel directly involved in Covid-19 treatment/ duty would be given incentives of INR 500, INR 400 and INR 150 per day respectively while the drivers and handymen transporting oxygen cylinders from other states would also be given INR 1000 and INR 500 per trip respectively.
He further informed that the current daily oxygen requirement of the state has increased to 1200 D-type cylinders and 450 B-type cylinders. He, therefore, stated that the government is trying to explore all possible means to ensure no dearth in oxygen supply and added that oxygen generating units of different capacities would be set up in all the districts at the earliest. In addition to the 50 oxygen concentrators which the state had received few days back, around 1000 more concentrators would arrive in a couple of days, he informed.
Stating that RIMS, JNIMS and Shija hospitals have their own oxygen generating units, Singh stated that the newly installed units at Churachandpur and Thoubal district hospitals are also likely to start functioning by May 17.
He also informed that 230 doctors and 178 new nurses had been engaged on contract basis to meet the manpower requirement adding more ambulances would also be provided to some hill districts soon. He further stated that the state technical expert committee has approved the use of Ivermectin tablets for Covid-19 positive patients.
Manipur on Friday recorded the year’s highest single-day spike of 726 fresh Covid-19 positive cases, according to a press release. With that, the state’s total infection tally has risen to 38,322 besides increasing the total number of active cases to 5,898. A total of 16 fatalities due to Covid was reported taking the death toll to 552. Even though 31,872 persons, including 381 in the last 24 hours, have recovered so far, the recovery rate continues to reduce to 83.16%.