One superspreader event reported in Kohima

Our Reporter
Saturday, April 4 (EMN): Nagaland recorded highest single-day spike in new Covid-19 cases in last six months on Wednesday with 107 cases following a superspreader event reported at a training institute in Kohima.

The Health and Family Welfare department’s weekly bulletin informed that the state recorded 132 Covid cases and no deaths in the past week ending April 2, and the outbreak at a training institute in Kohima had sent out a clear message that such events can happen anywhere.

All superspreader events in the state have been reported from “enclosed” and “crowded places” with maximum face to face human interactions,” read the bulletin, adding that research said 10% of superspreaders are responsible for 80% of cases.

“Such events have been observed in confined, enclosed spaces with poor natural ventilation and where Covid-19 appropriate behaviours can be compromised like offices, schools, prisons, places of worship, trainings, meetings, restaurants, crowded markets, public transport and large public events,” it said.

How to avoid superspreader events:

• Prompt isolation and testing of anyone with even the mildest of symptoms.

• Compulsory wearing of mask.
• Opening of doors and windows for adequate natural ventilation.
• Staggering of church timings and religious events to ensure 2-metre physical distancing along with usage of digital platform.
• Alternate day routine for schools to ensure 2-metre physical distancing as in SOP.
• Event managers to ensure crowd management, physical distancing and Covid-appropriate behaviours are enforced strictly.
• Provision of handwashing points and hand sanitisers in all high-risk settings.

The update went on to inform that fatality rate of persons aged 45 years and above in the state at 2.6% is much higher than the overall rate of 0.66% and that “vaccines offer the best chance against severe disease or death and all eligible citizens should get protected at the earliest”.