COVID-19 is far from over: Nagaland Health Dept

April 2, 2023 19 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | April 2

With the latest reported case of COVID-19 in the state on February 11, 2023, officials from the Health & Family Welfare Department today said that COVID-19 is far from over and that it is going to be with us, as expected.

Commissioner & Secretary for Health & Family Welfare, Y Kikheto Sema however, said while the people may not panic, and although the fourth wave is not as severe, people should not be too careless about following COVID appropriate behaviours.

Briefing media personnel, Sema said “the COVID-19 pandemic which is an unprecedented crisis in our lifetime has affected the entire State machinery and every individual directly or indirectly.”

Nagaland, he stated along with the rest of the world has been engaged in the combat against the spread of the virus for much of the year 2020 till 2022, and the COVID-19 related interventions have dominated the activities of the Department of Health & Family Welfare.

Even with limited infrastructures, the state, he said has been able to tackle the first, second and the third waves of COVID-19. Currently with improved infrastructure, he expressed confidence that the state is prepared to tide over the challenges of the pandemic, if cases surge up again.

Highlighting the timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, Sema said that with the first communication received from the Health Ministry on January 18, 2020, varied activities from the highest level in the state were initiated and executed in the fight against the pandemic.

One good thing about the pandemic, he pointed out, was while preparing for combating the pandemic, the overall health infrastructure of the state also saw a significant uplift.

“With negligible capacity to handle the challenges of the pandemic, today the state health infrastructures including manpower have been revamped to a large extent,” he said.

Since the first positive cases were detected on May 25, 2020 from returnees, intensive testing has been carried out with the overall death rate at 2.15%. As of March 31, 2023, a total of 4,88,819 samples have been tested with 35,988 positive cases and 777 deaths inclusive of both related COVID and non-COVID deaths. The overall positivity rate is 7.36% and death rate stands at 2.15%. (See table)

The state is equipped
With some cases of COVID-19 positive cases reported from the neighbouring state of Assam, it was informed that on an average 20-30 tests are being carried out on a daily basis.

Sema further informed that the State has enough bed capacity, both Oxygen supported and ICU beds with 307 normal beds, 787 oxygen supported beds, 107 ICU beds and 97 ICU ventilator beds from across 11 districts in the state.

For public health preparedness, a mock drill was conducted on December 27, 2022 with participants from 85 Health Units while the next Mock Drill is scheduled on April 10 and 11.

On XBB.1.16 variant
With about 4,000 cases of the XBB.1.16 variant reported in the country, which is attributed to the recent spike in COVID-9 cases, State Nodal Officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), Dr Nyanthung Kikon said this is a sub variant of the Omicron variant.

While awaiting more information and data in this regard, Dr Kikon said there has been no indication of increased severity, hospitalisation and oxygen requirement.

Also with the rising trend in Influenza like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (ILI/SARI), Dr Kikon said it is closely monitoring hospitalisation and treatment in the state, both in the public and private hospitals.

With people coming with severe respiratory illness, he said “we are likely to see COVID positive cases.”

Meanwhile, Principal Director, Dr Vibeituonuo Mepfuo said the Whole Genome Sequencing of positive samples now, can be done in the NHAK lab as and when the need arises.

As a way forward, the officials said the department will continue to focus on the 5-fold strategy of ‘Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination & COVID Appropriate Behaviour’, especially wearing of masks in hospital premises by patients, health professionals and health workers.

The department, it said will also enhance lab surveillance and testing of all Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases, besides ramping up of Whole Genome Sequencing of Positive Samples and enhanced community awareness regarding disease and vaccination, particularly precaution dose for 18+ age group.