Peren segregates returnees amid steep rise in Covid-19 cases

Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 24 (EMN): The steep rise in the number of Covid-19 positive cases in Peren district has prompted the Peren District Hospital and the district administration to take up the task of segregating the negative and positive cases in order to contain the spread of the virus among the returnees, who officials said, were not maintaining social distancing in the quarantine centre.

Peren district has recorded 85 Covid-19 positive cases so far, out of which two have recovered.

The deputy commissioner (DC) of Peren, Sentiwapang Aier, told Eastern Mirror that JNV, which was earlier used as quarantine centre for returnees mostly from Chennai, has been converted into an isolation ward for the positive cases and the negative cases have been segregated and shifted to another place.

He said that due to the rise in the number of positive cases, only half of the buildings are being used as quarantine centres to avoid any possible spread and contact among those undergoing quarantine.

The DC said that not maintaining social distancing was the reason for the spike in positive cases among the Peren returnees.

"So far, most of the positive cases are from Chennai returnees. They came in a large number with no social distancing. Even when they were in Dimapur quarantine (centre), they had not maintained social distancing. After returning to Peren, the groups continued to mingle among themselves at the quarantine centre. And this was the primary reason why there is an increase in the numbers," Aier said.

He also said that if there are more Peren returnees, the district administration would request the Dimapur district administration to help by retaining the fresh arrivals in the commercial hub in order to segregate the group from further spreading of the virus.

"Unless we segregate, the cycle will go on and this was why we are using only half of the buildings to maintain distancing and avoid mingling," he reasoned.

Chief Medical Officer of Peren Dr. Supongmenla Walling also observed that maintaining social distancing was a problem with the returnees and that was the 'reason for the increase in number of positive cases'.

With the increasing number of coronavirus cases, the Peren frontline workers are on their toes and though the currently available manpower has been combating the challenges, Walling said, they would require more health professionals if the number continues to increase.

"Although we have not received any official letter, we have been informed that more doctors and nurses will be provided at the Peren District Hospital, and we are hoping that they arrive soon,” she said. The CMO also said that ‘it was difficult to make the returnees aware of social distancing as most of them are school dropouts and less educated workers’.