IDSP says no reason to drop one’s guard
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 27
As the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified a new SARS-Cov-2 strain as a “variant of concern,” detection of new cases dipped for the fourth week straight in Nagaland. The state logged 56 new cases for the week (November 20-26) but more than three-fourth of the 7-day total was reported from Dimapur— the most populous district in the state.
Dimapur accounted for 43 and 4 each in Kohima, Mokokchung and Kiphire, while the other districts did not report a single new case. It came at a sample positivity rate of 1.8 percent.
There were 38 recoveries: Dimapur- 25, Kohima- 6, Kiphire- 3, Mokokchung- 2, Wokha and Zunheboto- 1 each.
Only 1 death was reported from the week, which, as per the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), occurred in Dimapur. As per the IDSP’s weekly COVID roundup released on November 27, the median age of COVID-19 deaths is 33 years with the youngest being a 2-day old infant and the oldest being a 106-year old.
Gender-wise, more males have succumbed to the virus. The official death toll, as on November 27, was 680, out of which 475 were males.
“17 new COVID-19 hospital admissions were recorded from COVID-19 hospitals (same as past week) signifying continued transmission of COVID-19 in the community,” the IDSP added.
Vaccination
There was a slight improvement in vaccination. The week’s vaccination tally was tipped at 24,143 doses, rising from the previous week’s tally of 17,818 doses. It was likely an effect of the door-to-door (Har ghar dastak) campaign. Since October, the state’s vaccination graph had plotted downward course.
The sum of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered rose to 12.76 lakh but the IDSP noted, “Coverage remains much lower than the national coverage which could have a significant impact in the coming waves.”
Variant of Concern
The IDSP further informed that with the WHO classifying a new Variant of Concern (VOC), named OMICRON, the Union Health Ministry has “instructed all states to conduct rigorous screening and testing at Points of Entry.”
The new variant has so far been reported from South Africa, Botswana and Hongkong and the WHO has cautioned all countries for increased surveillance and sequencing.
Note to citizens
Many countries around the world are already into the fourth wave. Consequent waves will affect us unless we take adequate measures like masking and COVID-19 vaccination.
Many countries around the world are already into the fourth wave. Consequent waves will affect us unless we take adequate measures like masking and COVID-19 vaccination.
The New Variant of Concern (Omicron) can spread to any country or state if adequate measures are not taken.
COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are mostly happening in unvaccinated people and low coverage pockets across the world, and it is now ‘The Pandemic of the Unvaccinated’. In Nagaland, COVID-19 deaths are being observed mostly among the unvaccinated. 87% of COVID-19 deaths in the second wave did not receive even a single dose and less than 2% of deaths are fully vaccinated.
Though daily reported cases have declined in the state, we still see an average of 27 new COVID-19 hospital admissions and 4 deaths every week in the past month which indicates that COVID-19 transmission is continuing in the community.
India has vaccinated more than 80% of all eligible beneficiaries by the first dose but Nagaland remains one of the least vaccinated states in the country which could have a significant negative impact on the severity of the subsequent waves.
Courtesy: IDSP, Nagaland Health & Family Welfare Department
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