Moa Jamir
New COVID-19 cases, which were increasing consistently in recent times in Nagaland, albeit in small numbers, surged to 385 in the April 17-23 period, the highest weekly surge since December 2020. However, a degree of callousness is perceptible in tackling the so-called ‘second wave’ in the state. Such approach is currently triggering a health crisis across the country, including India's seat of power, New Delhi.
True, the State Government has issued “urgent” measures to tackle recent surges and had assigned District Task Forces (DTFs) to adopt local-centric standard operating procedures (SOPs) in respective jurisdictions. The State-level ‘COVID-19 war room’ has also been reactivated while schools up to Class VIII have been closed. Respective DTFs, subsequently, have also issued relevant guidelines to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Nevertheless, it is deeply concerning that neither the State nor district-level task forces have put in place a cohesive strategy to monitor movements. It is understood that most of the new cases detected in the recent weeks are returnees /travellers or traced contacts.
At best, the concerned authorities seem to be relying on the ‘good faith’ of the inbound travellers to diligently fill and submit ‘self-declaration forms’ at various online and offline platforms designated for such purposes. Besides, concerned villages, colonies or wards have been urged to monitor movements of individuals within their jurisdictions.
The strategy has two serious defects. Firstly, without any monitoring at entry points coupled with lack of awareness or limited know-how about the ‘self-declaration forms,’ it is highly doubtful whether each inbound traveller is ‘dutifully’ filling the form. On the other end, by the time a person is detected to be COVID-19 positive at home, as a result of monitoring by the respective area’s authority or self-test, the possibility of outside interactions are quite high, starting from the de-boarding area to each habitat.
A near full-proof mechanism is screening, registration and testing as well as checking for the latest negative test results on arrival. This strategy, regrettably, is missing at most entry points to the state.
Take the case of the Dimapur Railway Station, arguably the busiest entry point to Nagaland. Local dailies including The Morung Express, Nagaland Post and Nagaland Page have been highlighting the lack of proper monitoring at the station in the recent past. However, apart from random testing and ‘assistant booth,’ no registration or mass screenings were being undertaken, when last updated on April 24.
This can be construed as a lack of crucial proper containment strategy as well as gross neglect on the part of the concerned authorities. The Station receives thousands of passengers each day, including two daily trains originating from New Delhi and one daily from Guwahati. Both sites are among the top in reporting new cases in recent times.
If this is the case for a railway station, one wonders what situation of those entering the state in buses. No monitoring mechanisms are in place North Field Gate or Delai Check Gate, Dimapur, the two main entry points via roads to Dimapur.
This laxity potentially has serious consequences. The recent category of case detection demands stricter monitoring. For instance, according to the latest weekly COVID bulletin issued by Nagaland Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), out of 385 cases detected this week, 179 persons (46%) were ‘Travelers/Returnees’ while 187 (49%) were ‘Traced Contacts/Self-test’. It also included 18 (5%) ‘Armed forces/ Security’, who are usually those returning to respective posting after a break. It is yet to be ascertained whether ‘traced contracts’ are related to travelling.
Further analysis of new cases in Dimapur from April 19-25 is highly instructive - out of 512 cases reported in Dimapur during this period, 290 or 56.64% were designated as ‘Travelers/Returnees.”
This clearly affirms the need for stricter monitoring, in addition to the strategy of the “Trace, Test and Treat” protocol as well as ensuring COVID-appropriate behaviours to check the resurgence of cases. Devoid of such measures, the State remains highly susceptible to new infections and any unusual addition of cases may prove catastrophic for its fragile health care system.
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