Nagaland: People’s reluctance to disclose information a great challenge in combat against Covid-19

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 17 (EMN): Healthcare workers in Nagaland are currently fighting a battle on two fronts, the Covid-19 pandemic and the reluctance of people to disclose information, according to Dr. Nyanthung Kikon, the state nodal officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

Speaking to journalists in Kohima on Tuesday, Kikon said that many positive cases were reluctant to share their contacts and those with symptoms refuse to get tested, ‘posing a great challenge for the authorities’.

The doctor appealed to the people with Covid-19 symptoms to volunteer for early testing or dial the state helpline number.

He reiterated that early diagnosis and treatment is vital to break the chain of transmission.

With regard to the sealing of a number of government offices in Kohima and Dimapur, Kikon said that the closures were necessitated to allow sanitisation of the offices so as to ensure that ‘more infection does not happen’.

He added that it would also enable the surveillance team to perform necessary contact tracing.

Kikon said that all those involved in the fight against the pandemic were emphasising the importance of wearing masks, washing hands regularly and thoroughly, maintaining social distance and other measures.

“We expect responsible citizens to follow these so that infection does not spike,” said Kikon.