Nagaland Health department appeals for Covid-appropriate behaviours to avoid second wave

People told not to let their guards down at this critical juncture as Covid-19 cases spike in India

Dimapur, March 23 (EMN): In view of the country witnessing a spike in Covid-19 for the past four weeks with some states resorting to stricter measures, Nagaland State Task Force on Covid-19 had a meeting on Monday to review the emerging situation and its relation to the state.

An update from Dr. Kevichusa Medikhru, Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare, informed that the House reviewed the existing SOPs, status of testing and surveillance, status of vaccination drive and the need to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviours at the meeting chaired by Chief Secretary J Alam.

Stating that the detection of SARS-COV-2 variants calls for the need to be more vigilant, it urged the people not to “let our guards down at this critical juncture” though the state has one of the lowest death rates in the country due to the continued community support.

“The state has opened schools, colleges and relaxed many SOPs as it is understood that Covid-19 may stay longer but that essential services need to continue normally to sustain livelihoods. Despite all this, the public have to keep in mind that the pandemic is not yet over and the threat to our society still looms very large,” it stated.

“Covid-19 comes in different waves as observed all over the world. With the opening of borders along with the relaxation of public health and safety measures, there is a need to bring additional focus on Covid-appropriate behaviours like wearing mask, hand washing and physical distancing,” it added.

It urged the people to take test if they have Covid-like symptoms to avoid super spreader events especially in schools, offices and other high-risk settings.

“The fatigue of the pandemic should not make us vulnerable as all the hardship and hard work we have endured till now may go in vain if there is a second wave,” it stated. It urged the citizens to remain vigilant to ensure that “we do not witness a second wave” and appealed to ‘the high-risk population to take Covid vaccine to avoid further serious cases and deaths, hospitalisations or enforcement of drastic public health and safety measures’.