• 37% positivity rate in Dimapur
• High detection among travellers
• Do not travel unless absolutely necessary
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 1
Nagaland made a new COVID-19 record this week, registering the highest weekly count since the first case was detected in May 2020.
This week’s (April 24-30) score was 1,087, higher than the previous weekly high of 970 recorded in between November 14-20, 2020. The only other time the state recorded 900-plus cases was in between July 31-August 6, 2020.
Data available at covid19india.org stated that in the last one week (April 23-30), “the number of new infections has grown by an average of 1.2% every day,” as per covid19india.org.
The tally for the week included 578 traced contacts, 457 returnees, 39 armed forces personnel and 13 frontline workers, as per the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme’s (IDSP) weekly COVID roundup released on May 1.
Rising positivity
The week’s 1,087 cases were detected from a total of 4,409 samples returning a positivity rate 25 percent. District-wise, the positivity rate in Dimapur for the week was 37 percent, a jump of 13 percent from the previous week. It increased to 18 percent in Kohima from 11 percent and from 1 percent to 11 percent in Longleng. (See table for district-wise data)
Meanwhile, the positivity rate for the state increased to 9.5 percent from 9 percent the previous week.
Moreover, April ended with a positivity rate of 15.5 percent as opposed to 2.3 percent recorded in March.
High positivity rate among inbound passengers arriving via air was also observed. The IDSP said, “From April 17-29 (2021), 833 samples were tested from Dimapur Airport and 449 passengers were found to be positive with a positivity rate of 54%. People tested positive at arrival are likely to have got the infection before boarding the plane.”
Given the high rate of detection among travelers, it advised against travelling unless “absolutely necessary.” “Even after a negative test you (passengers/travellers) should strictly quarantine for a minimum of 7 days and observe for symptoms,” it added.
There has also been a substantial increase in symptomatic cases with more people reporting with symptoms compared to last year. “The percentage of reported symptomatic cases has increased from 5 percent to 12 percent between 2020 and 2021,” it said.
Reduced sample testing
Despite high detection rate, sample testing continued to remain sluggish, infact, reduced. From 69 tests per thousand population in mid-April, the rate reduced to 68 per thousand this week, as per covid19india.org.
Fatalities
10 COVID deaths were reported during the week. As reiterated time and again, the data pointed out a high CFR (Case Fatality Rate) among persons of 45 years and above, which was hovering at 2.6 percent. The median age of COVID victims was 53 years (24-90 years range).
A decimal shift in the death rate was noted, increasing from 0.65 to 0.67 percent this week. The national average was 1.11 percent.
Recoveries
The state also recorded 107 recoveries in 7 districts during the week with Kohima accounting for 64, followed by Dimapur- 34, Longleng- 3, Mokokchung and Phek- 2 each, Wokha and Tuensang 1 each.
For comparison, out of the 1,087 cases detected during the week, Dimapur accounted for 846, followed Kohima- 177, Tuensang- 20, Mokokchung-16, Mon and Phek- 8 each, Longleng- 4 and 2 each in Wokha, Peren, Zunheboto and Kiphire. The recovery rate was at 87.5 percent.
Country
The IDSP informed that cases continued to surge in all the state, including smaller towns “overwhelming the health services system.” The country tally for the week was around 25 lakhs with over 21 thousand deaths reported. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh were the most affected states.
Globally, driven by a surge in south and south-east Asia, new cases continued to increase for the 9th consecutive week with India reporting the highest cases globally in the past week.
