Nagaland records highest deaths in single week despite decline in new Covid-19 cases

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, May 29 (EMN): The number of weekly fresh Covid-19 cases declined for the first time in a month in Nagaland but registered highest casualties in a single week since the pandemic began last year.

A total of 1622 Covid-19 cases (excluding cases detected on Saturday) were recorded in the last week ending May 28, against 2062 infections in the previous week, but the number of deaths increased to 84 from 68 (week on week), according to the data provided by the state’s Health department.

“21% of deaths have happened within 24 hours of arrival to a hospital signifying arrival with very advanced symptoms,” it stated, adding that “10 deaths have been reported from home isolation.”

It further informed that 17% of deaths recorded this year happened within one day of hospitalisation, 16% each within 2 days and 3-4 days, 14% within 6-10 days; 8% within 16-22 days and 1% brought dead.

“Out of 259 deaths (recorded in 2021), details of 56 cases are still under investigation,” it added.

Impact of containment zones, total lockdown in

The Health department data showed positive outcome in Kohima and Dimapur after the two cities were declared containment zones, followed by total lockdown.

The seven day moving average of daily new cases, as on May 5, after the Kohima and Dimapur were declared containment zones, were 200, while it was 266  as on May 14 (total lockdown in State) and 220 on May 28 (14 days after lockdown). “Daily cases usually decrease two weeks or more after a lockdown and there has been a small decline but it has to be sustained with more measures for a full 28-day cycle. Decline has been more in Dimapur,” it stated.

The weekly sample positivity rates in the two places declined from 34% as on May 5 to 23% (May 14) and 21% on May 28 (14 days after lockdown). However, the update said that there has been an increase in number of districts with more than 10% weekly sample positivity rate.

Regarding weekly Covid hospital admissions, the number was 160 as on May 5, 252 on May 14 and 193 on May 28 (14 days after lockdown). The Health department stated that “hospital admissions and cases may continue or remain steady for a week or more even with lockdown”.

The data also showed an increase in weekly deaths: 18 as on May 5, 67 on May 14 and 84 on May 28 (14 days after lockdown).

“Deaths always follow a week or more after increase in cases and is expected to plateau in a week unless there are no new infections,” read the update.