Danger of complacency on Covid-19

October 3, 2021 45 Views No Comment

Proportion of new cases by ‘travellers’ have increased: H&FW

DIMAPUR, OCT 3 (NPN) As Covid-19 lockdown curbs are being relaxed, entry of tourists allowed, reopening of schools and businesses also allowed, especially in view of the festive season ahead, a health official has expressed serious concern about complacency among people who are flouting the Covid safety protocols.
Though Nagaland’s weekly positivity rate (2.1%) has been below 5% for the past seven consecutive weeks, the official however cautioned that the second wave of Covid-19 has not ended yet.

Open flouting of Covid-19 protocols is rampant in the state where people thronging crowded places are not wearing face masks since it is a largely held belief that after taking both vaccine jabs it totally safe.

“People are still dying, though not as it was during the peak of the second wave. People need to be extra careful and follow safety protocols/guidelines issued by the government,” the official said.
Many virologists have warned against such complacency which they said will only propel the expected third wave to arrive sooner than later and more fatal. According to Central health officials, the third wave is likely to infect mostly children from ages 3 and above.
Earlier this week, the Centre, in a communication to chief secretaries of all states cautioned against the possibility of COVID-appropriate behaviour not being adhered to strictly during the upcoming festival which may lead to a surge in cases again.
Despite a decline in COVID-19 cases, it is critical to enforce guidelines that allow regular festivities in a cautious, safe and COVID-appropriate manner, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asserted.
He said the daily COVID-19 cases and the overall number of COVID-19 patients in the country are decreasing steadily but there are still localised spreads of virus in a few states and COVID-19 continues to be a public health challenge in the country.
Meanwhile, in its weekly bulletin released on Saturday, State Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department pointed out that the proportion of new weekly positive cases by “travellers” have increased from 5% to 11% in the last three weeks. (See Graph-1)
With regard to distribution of confirmed cases by age-group, the department said that between 2020 and 2021, proportion of cases increased by over 7000. (See Graph-2).
The department further informed that the state reported 180 new cases during the week (between September 25 to October 1), the lowest since June this year. Further, five deaths were reported from the week (Dimapur: 4 and Mokokchung: 1) taking the total Covid-19 deaths to 651. A total of 25 Covid hospital admissions were reported during the week, the lowest since May 2021.
State logs 30 fresh cases: Nagaland on Saturday recorded 30 fresh Covid-19 positive cases while no deaths were reported during the day.
Of the fresh cases 20 were from Dimapur, four in Mokokchung and three each in Kohima and Phek, taking the total caseload to 31295. The death toll remain unchanged at 666 (including 15 non-Covid deaths).

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/danger-of-complacency-on-covid-19/241580.html