Nagaland sees 862% weekly increase in new Covid-19 cases

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 15 (EMN): Nagaland recorded an 862% increase in new Covid-19 cases with 520 infections reported in the past week, ending January 14, compared to 54 in the previous week, updated state’s Health department in its weekly bulletin.

Dimapur accounted for 88% of all cases, it informed, adding that 60% of positive cases reported in the state during the week were travellers and 32% were detected through random tests.

The state’s weekly sample positivity rate increased from 1.6% to 10% last week, the first in the last seven months, and two districts — Dimapur and Tuensang — recorded weekly sample positivity rate of more than 10%.

As many as seven new hospital admissions were recorded from Covid-19 hospitals with no deaths during the week, compared to one fatality in the week before. However, hospitalisations and deaths follow only 2-3 weeks after increase in cases, the Health department informed.

Nagaland against Omicron

In the wake of astronomical rise in the number of Covid cases across the world and India, the Health department has urged those unvaccinated to use the small window period to get themselves inoculated before the peak of the third wave.

“Data from across the globe shows vaccines are very effective against severe disease and hospitalisation even against the Omicron. The unvaccinated and those pending for second dose should use the limited time to get their vaccines,” read the bulletin.

“Avoiding crowded places and compulsory use of masks (double masks, surgical, or N95 masks) in all public places and gatherings will be critical to avoid super spreader events and avoid overwhelming the health system,” it added.

The department also stated that vaccines work very well against hospitalisations and deaths, but its effectiveness decreases over time. Hence, it recommended people at high risk– 60 plus elderly with comorbidities, healthcare workers and frontline workers to get the precautionary or third booster dose nine months after the second dose.

It updated that the state has so far administered 2,797 booster doses: healthcare workers – 718, frontline workers – 1937, and 60 years + with comorbidities – 142

A total of 13.83 lakh doses of vaccine have been administered in the state as on January 14, it informed.

It went on to inform that 16,014 teenagers aged between 15 and 18 have been vaccinated with the first dose so far. A break-up of this showed that 8697 doses were administered in Dimapur, Kohima – 3726, Mokokchung – 2238, Wokha – 597, Phek – 342, Peren – 325 and Longleng – 89, while the rest of the districts have not opened their accounts.