Worry over undetected cases hangs overhead
Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 23
Nagaland continued to maintain a weekly tally of new COVID-19 cases well below the 200-mark for the fourth consecutive week. The state clocked 142 new cases and 4 deaths for the week (October 16-22) at a sample positivity rate of 3.2 percent.
Dimapur, Tuensang and Kohima reported the most number of cases with 63, 25 and 24, respectively. Mokokchung reported 11 new cases, while the other districts reported less than 10 cases. Kiphire and Zunheboto did not report a single case.
The state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), in its weekly COVID roundup, released on October 23, however noted that the positivity rate charted an upward trajectory for the past three weeks— increasing from 2.1 percent (October 2-8) to 2.9 percent (October 9-15) and 3.2 percent (October 16-22).
Two districts in particular— Tuensang and Longleng reported 10-plus percent positivity. The positivity in Wokha was also well above the accepted normal range at 7.4 percent for the week. The positivity in the other districts were below 4 percent.
Of the 4 deaths, 2 were reported from Dimapur and 1 each from Mon and Peren.
There were 32 cases of COVID patients admitted to hospitals with Tuensang accounting for 19. While detection of new cases may have decreased, the IDSP said that, on average, “40 new COVID-19 hospital admissions and 6 COVID-19 deaths per week continue to be reported in the last 5 weeks.”
Meanwhile, it observed that many cases remain undetected or under-reported “and there is sufficient evidence of the possibility of a third wave anytime.” To avoid any super spreader events and avoid a third wave, it emphasized making a habit of wearing masks, regular hand-washing, reducing and avoiding large public gatherings and vaccination of all eligible population. In the case of unavoidable indoor gatherings, it insisted on the venue having ample ventilation.
Recoveries
The state also reported 113 patients recovering from COVID. Dimapur reported 55 recoveries, Kohima- 28, Mokokchung- 11, Phek- 9, Tuensang- 7, Wokha- 2, Peren- 1. Mon and Zunheboto did not report a single recovery.
Vaccine
The total of vaccine administered in the state increased to 11.7 lakh doses with 36,904 doses administered during the week. The districts with the highest vaccine coverage were Dimapur, Kohima, Longleng and Mokokchung. The total of people fully vaccinated increased to 4,65,335.
“COVID-19 vaccination of the eligible population is the way out of this pandemic and should be highly encouraged in all settings,” the IDSP reiterated.
