Shops in Kiphire to close for 3 days; random testing reveals 45% positivity rate

Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 10 (EMN): The Kiphire District Task Force has resolved to close all shops in the district for 72 hours with effect from May 11 in view of the rise in the number of Covid-10 cases.

Chief Medical officer (CMO) of Kiphire, Dr. E Motsuthung told this newspaper that no new Covid patient was admitted to the District Hospital Kiphire on Monday.

The medical officer informed that the district hospital currently has 12 beds, including nine beds with oxygen support and three ICU beds, but 15 to 20 beds can be added if necessary.

Motsuthung informed that out of 20 random samples collected from taxi drivers, shopkeepers and labourers on Sunday, May 9, nine returned positive for Covid-19, which is 45% positivity rate.

While terming the random testing results as alarming, the officer also informed that around 21 samples that were collected from a village related to contact tracing fortunately returned negative.

The CMO also informed that they were going to continue random testing on Tuesday as well.

According to a DIPR report, Deputy Commissioner, T Wati Aier said that Covid-positive cases in the district were only four, but nine more positive cases were detected during the random testing.

The DC said that only frontline workers alone cannot fight the pandemic and that it required collective effort from all the citizens.

Further, it was resolved during a meeting to activate Covid Care Centre and institutional quarantine centres at Kiphire and Pungro as well as screening centres at Anatongre, Longmatra and Yangzitong junctions.

The District Task Force informed that trucks and other vehicles carrying commodities coming from other districts would be permitted for only 12 hours for unloading and staying at Kiphire town is prohibited.

The House also informed that equipment for the oxygen plant had arrived at Kiphire and it would take a month before the facility become functional.