An ASHA worker in Longleng demonstrates hand washing technique to children in the community. Healthcare workers, who are on the frontlines of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, require the full support of the government and the people.
• 825 recoveries against 623 cases
• Nil cases in Longleng in 7 days
• Vax still effective against delta
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 3
The COVID-19 situation in Nagaland continued to maintain a steady downward trajectory. The tally for the week (June 26-July 2) was 623 cases, the lowest weekly count since the last week of April. It also happened to be the fifth week since recoveries began outscoring detection of fresh cases.
The week’s cases included 297 traced contacts, 271 self/random test, 29 security personnel, 15 travelers and 11 frontline workers.
The total recovery was 825 with all districts, except Kiphire and Tuensang, reporting more recoveries than cases. Kiphire reported 7 recoveries against 11 cases and Tuensang- 33 recoveries against 40 cases.
Longleng had the distinction of nil cases, while reporting 15 recoveries.
The recovery figure in Dimapur was 232, Kohima- 208, Mokokchung- 164, Mon- 55, Peren- 47, Zunheboto- 32, Phek- 24 and Wokha- 8.
The comforting statistics was however dampened by 17 deaths, a figure higher than the previous week’s 14. There were three days during the week with nil death. Case fatality ratio was at 1.9 percent with maximum deaths observed in the 30-44 and 60-74 age groups.
The state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme’s (IDSP) weekly COVID roundup released on July 3 further informed that Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung showed an increase in new cases compared to the previous week.
However, cases declined by more than half in June with the state reporting 3558 cases during the month as opposed to the 7704 cases in May.
43 percent of all positive cases reported in 2021 have been from Dimapur, followed by Kohima (30 percent) and Mokokchung (9 percent).
It added, “21 to 30 years age group has the maximum positive cases at 27%. This signifies the role of the young people in transmission of the virus.”
Positivity
The weekly sample positivity rate dropped to 7 from 9.4 percent of the previous week. Positivity in Mokokchung and Kohima was high at 19 and 15 percent, respectively. It was below 10 percent in other districts with Peren returning 9 percent, Wokha- 7 percent, Dimapur- 6 percent and the rest, 5 or lower.
The state’s overall positivity rate dropped to 11 percent.
Meanwhile, the testing rate was at around 106 tests per thousand population.
Vaccine
The IDSP informed that COVID-19 vaccine can be administered to pregnant women as well. Citing “intensive studies,” it said that the risk of Covid-19 far outweighs any possible risk of vaccination.
The state has administered 5.26 lakh vaccine doses across the state, including 66, 710 doses of the second shot. 66,367 doses were administered during the week.
Delta variant
It further informed that genomic sequencing shows dominance of delta variant has already been reported from 96 countries in the state. As reported earlier, 93 out of 98 samples collected in the month of April 2021 and May 2021 were found to be of the delta variant.
Delta variant is one of the four ‘Variants of Concern’ identified by the WHO due to its high transmissibility. There are also 7 “Variants of Interests” as listed by the WHO as of June 2021.
Citing the WHO, the IDSP said, “Given the increase in transmissibility, the delta variant is expected to rapidly overcome other variants and become the dominant variant in the coming months across the globe.” It has already been reported from 96 countries.
As per studies, this variant has increased transmissibility and Secondary Attack Rate compared to the Alpha variant and “possible increased risk of severity of disease and hospitalization compared with the original virus.”
Despite, it said that COVAXIN and COVISHIELD are still very effective against severe disease, hospitalization or death by the Delta Variant.
