Random tests reveal high Covid-19 positivity rate in Nagaland

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 4 (EMN): Several district task forces (DTFs) had conducted random Covid-19 testing following Health department’s directive to take up the exercise in view of the steep rise in positive cases in the state, and the result exposed high positivity rate.

Chief Medical Officer of Tuensang, Dr. I Moatemjen informed Eastern Mirror that random sample testing for Covid-19 was conducted around Tuensang town and market area on Tuesday to know the prevalence of the disease.

The officer revealed that more than 10% of the total sample collected from random people in the town returned positive through RT-PCR.

Four patients -- three mild and one asymptomatic with the co-morbid condition -- are currently at District Hospital Tuensang, he informed, adding that the district hospital has around 30-40 beds available and there was no shortage of medical oxygen supply.

Dr. Moatemjen informed that to continue random sample testing, they need to arrange Covid care centre for isolation as everyone does not have separate room facilities at home. ‘Moreover they never know what the test result will be,’ he added.

Meanwhile, District Surveillance Officer of Mon, Dr. Limatula Aier informed that all the 60 samples that were collected for random testing last week in Mon town returned negative.

An official at District Hospital Mokokchung informed this newspaper that the district had not conducted any random sample testing so far. The source stated that random sample testing required ‘a lot of logistic set-up’ and moreover they were following strict SOP in order to curb the rise of Covid-19.

The official went on to inform that there are currently seven patients at Mokokchung District Hospital and around 45 beds were available for Covid-19 patients.

The department of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday revealed that Covid-19 positivity rate from samples collected at Dimapur Airport between April 17 and the 29th was around 54%, as 449 passengers out of 833 samples returned positive.

A source from District Hospital Dimapur (DHD) also informed that 32 patients were admitted at the hospital, adding that there was no shortage of oxygen supply for the Covid patients as well as for general patients.

DHD has 100 beds for Covid-19 patients as well as 13 ventilators.

It may be mentioned that the Kohima DTF had earlier informed that this newspaper that 14 out of 57 random samples tested in Kohima returned Covid-positive.