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Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, May 1 (EMN): The Health department of Nagaland has expressed concern over the high Covid-19 positivity rate among those tested in the state and the increase in symptomatic cases as it indicates prevalence of the disease.
The results of 4,409 samples tested in the past week ending April 30 showed a positivity rate of 25%, while it is much higher among the returnees at 54%, according to the weekly bulletin issued by the department of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday.
An increase in symptomatic cases was also witnessed among the positive cases, rising from 5% to 12% between 2020 and 2021, it added.
The state recorded 1087 Covid-19 positive cases in the past week (excluding cases reported on May 1) with traced contacts and self-test constituting 578 cases (53%); travelers and returnees – 457 (42%); armed forces – 39 (4%), and frontline workers – 13 (1%).
The Health department went on to inform that 10 deaths (excluding three fatalities reported on May 1) were reported in the past week.
“The CFR (Case Fatality Rate) among 45 years and above is high at 2.6% which is worrisome. The median age of Covid deaths is 53 years (range: 24-90 years),” read the update.
“Diabetes and hypertension are the most commonly associated comorbidities among the deaths in the state. Hence, vaccination of high risk was prioritised,” it added.
The department also stated that “people tested positive at arrival are likely to have got the infection before boarding the plane”, citing 449 out of 833 samples of returnees tested from April 17 to the 29th returning positive with a positivity rate of 54%.
Concerned over the finding, the department requested the travellers to strictly adhere to the following measures to protect yourself and family members: